Lifesaving women honed their search and rescue skills during a special event at a Norfolk lifeboat station.
Hunstanton RNLI hosted 15 visiting volunteers for the Women in SAR (search and rescue) conference on 11 October.
They came from stations including Wells, Cleethorpes, Clacton and Cullercoats for a demanding mix of training exercises on board the station's lifeboat and hovercraft.
There were crew changes afloat, along with the chance to go to sea for manoeuvres on the 'hover' with an all-female crew.
A shore-based drill saw a simulated casualty offered care and assistance, while a portable pump was also set up to test pumping out a casualty vessel.
Delegates also took part in theory sessions and wide-ranging discussions about their roles in the charity that saves lives at sea.
Organiser Mandy Humphreys, a member of the inshore and all-weather lifeboat crew and water safety lead at Wells RNLI, said the day had been an 'invaluable' opportunity for SAR women to train and network together.
'It was good, people enjoyed the afloat part,' she said. 'One said it was amazing seeing all these women helming the boats and everything, it was amazing seeing women doing all this good stuff.'
She added the Hunstanton crew had gone 'above and beyond' with both female and male volunteers helping to organise the day, as well as launching and recovering the lifeboat and hovercraft.
Ellie Collishaw, who joined the Hunstanton crew in the summer, said: 'I really enjoyed meeting all the other female crew members. It was really inspiring seeing an all-female crew.'
Charlie Parfitt, a hovercraft commander and helm at the station, said: 'The feedback was really good. It was a rare opportunity for so many women to come together and share experiences, it was really empowering for them.'
Editor's Notes
Volunteers at Hunstanton RNLI cover The Wash, a tidal estuary of some 200 square miles fed by five main rivers, along with parts of the north Norfolk coast.
The station has women in a wide range of roles, including hovercraft commander and pilot, lifeboat and hovercraft crew, plant driver and shore crew, along with its visits and water safety teams, souvenir shop and guild.
Women in SAR events have spread around different regions after successful pilot events hosted by the RNLI College at Poole in Dorset.
RNLI Images
Pictures from the event attached.
Please note credit: RNLI/Chris Bishop
RNLI Media Contacts
For more information call Chris Bishop, Hunstanton RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07584 147219 or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
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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.
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