First shout for Littlehampton RNLI father and daughter duo
A father and daughter from Littlehampton RNLI Lifeboat Station attended their first shout together as volunteer crew last week (11 April).
Jason Collins and Sophie Collins, from Angmering, were members of the volunteer crew from Littlehampton RNLI who were tasked by HM Coastguard at 2.20pm to assist a sinking jet ski near Littlehampton Harbour.
Jason started volunteering at Littlehampton RNLI in 2017. Sophie followed in his footsteps when she joined the crew in August last year.
Jason said: ‘It was great to be able to go on a service call with Sophie. She has watched me complete my crew training and enjoy my time at the RNLI, and having been keen to join up since she was about 14, is now excited to have started her RNLI journey.’
Sophie added: ‘I’ve been waiting for this moment – when both of us could work together to rescue and keep people safe at sea - for years! When dad’s pager would go off, I always wanted to go too, and now I can.’
Jason and Sophie, with fellow crew member Warren Marden and helm Mark Nicholls on Littlehampton RNLI’s Ray of Hope lifeboat, made their way to the jet ski, which was already under tow by Littlehampton Harbour Board. Our crew shadowed both vessels to the safety of the harbour.
Jason and Sophie aren’t the only family connection at Littlehampton RNLI. Brothers Richard and Steve Howlett, and Mark and James Nicholls, are also volunteer crew.
ENDS
Littlehampton RNLI’s volunteer crew look after the stretch of the West Sussex coast between Bognor Regis and Worthing. Littlehampton RNLI is independent from the Coastguard and receives no government funding. To find out more about Littlehampton RNLI, see https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2022/april/27/10-facts-about-littlehampton-rnli-lifeboat-station
RNLI media contacts
Beth Brooks, Lifeboat Press Officer, Littlehampton RNLI
07544 209256, [email protected]
Hatti Mellor, Regional Communications Manager, SE & London
07724 801305, [email protected]
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, X, TikTok 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.