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Help support RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews across the south west this Christmas

Lifeboats News Release

Christmas is a time for family and friends, but RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew across the south west will be prepared to leave their own celebrations at any point this festive season to answer the call for help.

As the charity comes to the end of its milestone 200th year, the charity is launching its annual Christmas fundraising appeal.

RNLI crews will launch whenever they are needed, knowing they can give someone the gift of more time with their loved ones. In 2023, RNLI volunteer crews in the south west launched 17 times over the festive period* (24 December – 1 January).

Whilst most people were settling down to enjoy their dinner on Christmas Day, last year the pager sounded for Lyme Regis volunteers, to a search for a dog who’d gone over the cliff.

One of the volunteers who responded to the pager was Giles Bristow and as he explains, the call came at an unfortunate time:

‘I do the cooking for Christmas, so I’d prepared the bird, you couldn’t write it really, I was wrapping it with foil, I’d done the vegetables the night before, that was all done and I was quite literally, putting the bird in the oven, when the pager went off.

‘Then I ran, jumped in the car got to the station thinking it may be quite a short shout, things would be dealt with quite quickly, and I’d be back home to carry on with the cooking. But that wasn’t the case, and after a couple of hours my family decided to carry on with the cooking.’

The Lyme Regis volunteer lifeboat crew launched their RNLI Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Spirit of Loch Fyne at around 1 pm and arrived on scene seven minutes later, immediately commencing a search of the cliffs towards Humble Point where Cook the dog had gone over the edge.

As Giles explains, the dog’s location made it a tricky challenge for the crew:

‘We thought we’d seen the dog on the beach. So, we thought it would be a quick operation to swim into shore, pick it up and swim in back to the lifeboat. Fellow crew member and I swam in together, there was quite a big swell, and it was a long swim. About halfway to the beach we realised what we’d been looking at wasn’t the dog. The dog was halfway up the cliff and stuck on a tiny little ledge.’

After some deliberation, due to the dog’s location, the decision was made that the safest option was for Cook, to be rescued from above. HM Coastguard Rescue Teams from Lyme Regis and Beer who had also been tasked to the incident, set up equipment to enable them to carry out a rope rescue.

Cook, a beagle/pug cross, uninjured by his Christmas Day drama, was eventually reunited with its grateful owners on the cliff top a couple of hours later.

Despite being called away from Christmas cooking, Giles was pleased they could play their part in the rescue and there was no resentment from his family for being called away:

‘To be honest, we’re lifeboat crew. We like to be able to help people, even at Christmas.

‘Our families are all very proud of what we do, they’re never annoyed, and are shouting go, go, go, start throwing shoes and clothes to get you out the door. They’re very proud despite it being Christmas.’

RNLI volunteers called out across the festive period last year included Weymouth RNLI volunteers who launched twice in two days (28 and 29 December) both to kite surfers in difficulty in the windy conditions. Penlee RNLI volunteers also launched on 29 December, to three surfers reportedly in difficulty, they escorted the surfers safely back to the beach.

Tom Mansell, Regional Operations Lead for the south west said:

We’re so proud of our volunteers who are committed to saving lives at sea 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Throughout the festive period they will be ready to respond to the sound of the pager and leave their families behind to help someone in need. I’d like to pay tribute to the thousands of RNLI volunteers this Christmas, and all those who support our charity and enable us to continue saving lives at sea.

Your kind Christmas gift could help to provide the vital training, equipment, and lifesaving crew kit needed to power the RNLI through another Christmas and beyond. We wish everybody a safe and enjoyable Christmas and New Year.’

To make a donation to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal, and enable the charity to continue its lifesaving work, visit: RNLI.org/WinterAppeal

Notes to Editors

  • Christmas period is from 24 December to 1 January

  • Footage of the Lyme Regis volunteer lifeboat crew helping cook the dog on 24 December 2023 is available to view and download here

  • Photo is of Plymouth Lifeboat crew with Santa at the Christmas Lights turn on 2024 credit: RNLI/Darren Blight

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact Archie Connolly, Media Engagement – Placement-South West on 07977 468283 or [email protected],uk or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 [email protected]

RNLI online

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

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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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.

RNLI at 200

On 4 March 2024, the RNLI celebrates 200 years of saving lives at sea – thanks to volunteers giving their time to save others, all funded by voluntary public donations. Throughout its 200th anniversary year, the charity is running events and activities to commemorate its history, celebrate the lifesaving service it provides today, and inspire generations of future lifesavers and supporters. For more information visit RNLI.org/200.

RNLI/Darren Blight

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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