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Mike becomes DLA at Hunstanton after realising lifetime ambition to join RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

A lifeboat station has a new deputy launch authority, who's realised his lifelong ambition to become part of the charity that saves lives at sea.

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Mike Gould, pictured on the beach by the lifeboat station at Hunstanton
Mike Gould remembers running to the boathouse at Hunstanton as a boy when he was staying in a holiday home nearby and saw the flares go up to signal a launch.

Now the 48-year-old businessman has completed his training and become one of the RNLI station's deputy launch authorities.

'I've been into watersports on and off all my life and I'm on the committee at Hunstanton Sailing Club,' said Mike.

'I sail, I surf and paddleboard, but while I've lived in the area all my life I haven't been within shout distance.

'I moved to Hunstanton in January and signed up straight away. I used to run down to the lifeboat station as a boy when the flares went off.

'I've always wanted to be part of it and give something back.'

Mike said he found the RNLI's training 'thorough and well-structured'.

A deputy launch authority - or DLA in station parlance - can authorise and oversee all aspects of a launch from when an emergency call comes in to when the lifeboat or hovercraft is returned to service after being washed down, checked and re-fuelled after a 'shout'.

Hunstanton is one of Norfolk's busiest stations, with a crew of volunteers who train constantly to meet the challenges of the stretch of coastline and tidal estuary they cover.

'They're not just a lovely crew,' said Mike. 'They're a really great team.'

Notes to editor

Hunstanton is one of the RNLI's busiest stations in Norfolk.

So far in 2023, its lifeboat and hovercraft have launched 27 times, with one life saved and 19 people aided.

The station is one of just four around the coastline of the UK and Ireland which operates a hovercraft.

RNLI media contacts

For more information call Chris Bishop, Hunstanton RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07584 147219 or Clare Hopps, Regional Media Officer on 07824 518641.

RNLI/Chris Bishop

Mike Gould, who has become a deputy launch authority at Hunstanton

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

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