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Appledore RNLI has a new Deputy Second Coxswain - Simon McCarthy

Lifeboats News Release

Appledore RNLI congratulate volunteer crew member Simon McCarthy on becoming their new Deputy Second Coxswain.

RNLI/Alex Hall

Simon McCarthy and his crew for this final pass out, plus his external assessor. Left to right: Mark Williams, Will Ellwood (Divisional Area Trainer and Assessor), Robbie Ward, Simon McCarthy, Rosco Coburn, Natalie Simmons, Matt Rowe, Richard Withey.
It takes years of dedicated commitment and training to become a Coxswain, and on Tuesday 9 May, all at Appledore RNLI were delighted that Simon McCarthy sailed through his final externally assessed pass out and is now a deputy second Coxswain for their Tamar class Lifeboat.

Simon joined Appledore RNLI in early April 2011, with little boating experience apart from some private fishing. As with all new recruits he started as shore crew, and went on to also pass out as a launch and recovery driver for both our tractors.

After about six months, he also went on to train on both boats as a crew member, casualty carer and then as an all-weather lifeboat navigator. By 2017 Simon had become a helm for Appledore RNLI’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat before training and passing out as a local trainer assessor, training crew up to helm standard. In 2020 he decided to train as a coxswain. His final pass out took place on Tuesday 9 May, a heavy and memorable day for him. First he had to undertake a written examination on rules of the sea before intensive testing on the lifeboat to sign off his ability to command his crew through all sorts of emergency situations.

The scenarios given included a man overboard soon after leaving the mooring. Both engines simultaneously caught on fire and lost power. The lifeboat was anchored until the engines were back up and running, the anchor was recovered, then a call came in asking for assistance from the inshore lifeboat. This had just been taken under tow when a MAYDAY came in from a sinking fishing boat with three people on board. The rescue helicopter was also called and a search pattern initiated. The inshore lifeboat was immediately anchored for later recovery. The fishing boat had sunk so the search was on for three people in the water. These were hypothetically picked up by the helicopter and the lifeboat returned to base only to find the steering failed so the boat was brought back onto its mooring under emergency steering and the crew safely returned to the lifeboat station. No mean feat!

Simon says: ‘I would like to thank everyone at station, shore crew, boat crew and management alike for all their help and support. You cannot undertake this sort of training without everyone’s help, and of course the 100% unending understanding, patience and tolerance of my family’.

Martin Cox, Appledore’s Coxswain agrees, ‘Massive Congratulations to Simon on his well earnt pass out. He has been totally committed and worked extremely hard with his training both locally and at the main RNLI training headquarters at Poole. It is very well deserved. We thank all at station for all their help with Simon’s intensive training and exercises.’


Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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