Three shouts in 24 hours kickstart 2025 for New Brighton RNLI

2025 got off to a quick start for volunteers aboard New Brighton’s Atlantic-85 lifeboat, with their first tasking of the year coming on Friday 3 January at approximately 3.30pm.

Initial reports were to a person in the water in difficulty around the Fort Perch Rock area. New Brighton RNLI launched and carried out initial searches as directed by HM Coastguard, alongside assets from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and an HM Coastguard rescue helicopter.

After extensive searches and ongoing discussion with the first informant, HM Coastguard was satisfied that the reported casualty was likely large debris in the water. Recent high tides on the River Mersey have contributed to high levels of debris in the water, easily mistaken at distance. This was confirmed by New Brighton RNLI in accordance with their search.

The second tasking came late on Friday 3 January, with the pager sounding once again at approximately 11.20pm. The lifeboat launched quickly to reports of a person in difficulty in the Egremont area. Once again, the lifeboat conducted initial searches in conjunction with assets from Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, in accordance with instructions from HM Coastguard.

Thankfully, the search was soon stood down as the casualty was safe with police and ambulance crews shoreside a short time later. The B-class lifeboat was returned to station and readied for service by around 1.30am on Saturday 4 January.

Despite the late bedtime, there was another tasking yet to come for volunteers at New Brighton, with the pager sounding again at approximately 10.50am on Saturday 4 January. Initial reports were to a woman and dog cut off by the tide in the Leasowe Bay area, but thankfully the casualty was quickly able to reach safety, and the New Brighton crew were stood down before launching. Hoylake RNLI were also in attendance for this incident, having been out on exercise already that morning.

Mark Harding, helm at New Brighton RNLI, said:

‘This was a busy start to 2025 for our crew, but they responded fantastically as always and we were ready for each of the taskings as they arrived, which put to test a range of skills for our amazing volunteers.

'We’re aware of an amber weather warning in place across the north west this weekend, so we’d urge extreme caution around the coastline, particularly if you’re out and about. Always check the tide times, carry a means of communication with you. If you get into distress, or see somebody who might be, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.’

Notes to Editors:

New Brighton RNLI was established in 1863 in the bustling seaside resort of New Brighton, on the northeast corner of the Wirral peninsula. They cover the River Mersey and out into the Irish Sea.

The station is home to a B-class Atlantic 85 lifeboat, one of the fastest in the RNLI fleet. The crews at New Brighton have been presented with a remarkable 48 awards for gallantry to date.

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Connor Wray – Lifeboat Press Officer (LPO)

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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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