Weston-super-Mare RNLI volunteer gets callout during his birthday celebrations.

Simon said ‘I was out celebrating my 41^st birthday with my mum, wife and kids. We were right in the middle of a slap-up meal at our favourite Italian restaurant Il Michealangelo’s, which happens to be right opposite the lifeboat station. I’d literally just finished my main course and my empty plate was still on the table when my pager went off.’

At 5.55pm the HM Coastguard alerted Weston crew for an immediate launch to reports of someone in the water after a fall from height.

Simon explains ‘Usually we receive a request to launch, but if it’s a more urgent incident we get an ‘immediate launch’ and the pagers makes a different sound. I was really pleased that I was so close as all I had to do was run straight across the road so I was the first one to arrive at the station!’

Supporting crew turned up within minutes and the D Class lifeboat was quickly launched off the Knightstone slipway. It was a speedy job as before the lifeboat reached the casualty they had managed to get to shore unharmed where police were waiting to provide assistance. In fact, it was so fast that Simon was able to get back to restaurant in time for his surprise carrot cake, candles and rendition of happy birthday.

Simon’s wife, Holly happens to be the stations volunteer press officer so she could resist the opportunity of capturing it all on camera. Holly said ‘We are fully used to the sound of the pager and Simon disappearing at the drop of hat, no matter what we happen to be doing. He loves being part of the lifeboat and helping people so it would have made his birthday to get a shout with a positive ending. As a family we are really proud of him and how dedicated he is to saving lives at sea.’

Weston’s volunteer lifeboat crew are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All crew are members are members of the local community who give up their time to save lives at sea in the Bristol Channel.

RNLI media contacts

For more information, please contact Weston’s Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officers Holly Turner [email protected] Tel. 07930279912.

RNLI online

For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, 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 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 142,200 lives.

Weston-super-Mare RNLI lifeboat station was founded in 1882. Between 1882 and 2023 the Weston-super-Mare volunteer lifeboat crew have launched 2,269 times and saved 477 lives.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, 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.