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Busy Saturday evening for Newbiggin RNLI volunteers

Lifeboats News Release

Assistance needed to personal watercraft and then a distress call from a drifting yacht led to two calls for lifeboat help tonight.

Lifeboat at sea

RNLI/Richard Martin from stock file

Newbiggin lifeboat and tractor
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The first call came in around 6.45pm when a report was received about a personal watercraft, the two passengers having ended up in the water and they were unable to reach the shore. Newbiggin’s Atlantic 85, B class lifeboat Richard Wake Burdon was launched from the beach and quickly recovered the persons to the safety of the shore. Assistance was also given by paddleboarders in the bay who stood by the drifting craft. Once ashore the two casualties were given medical assistance from the lifeboat casualty care volunteers with the Newbiggin coastguard rescue team aiding also. Due to the hypothermic condition of the casualties valuable assistance was given by North East Ambulance Service with one of their paramedic teams. With casualty care underway the lifeboat was launched back out to sea again to recover the personal watercraft, then bring them to the shore. The lifeboat was then washed down, refuelled and made ready for service once again.

Around an hour later at 8.40pm a distress signal was sent out by a 32ft yacht, that had two persons and a dog on board, with propulsion issues and drifting off Newbiggin Point. The Newbiggin paging alert system was activated for the second call of the evening with Newbiggin’s Atlantic 85, B class lifeboat Richard Wake Burdon launching minutes later. The casualty was quickly located and safely towed south to Blyth where they were securely moored alongside at Royal Northumberland Yacht Club.

The lifeboat then returned to station for another refuel and wash down ready for the next call to assistance.

Newbiggin RNLI is based at Sandridge, Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland. The station was established in 1851 and currently operates an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Richard Wake Burdon. This year, 2026, is our 175th year of saving lives at sea, an anniversary where we reflect on the incredible dedication of our volunteers, past and present and the incredible support we receive from our community and beyond - all of this has made our 175 year journey possible.

If you would like to find out more about Newbiggin lifeboat station, its volunteers and its heritage then please look at the local website.

View looking east

RNLI/Richard Martin from stock file

Newbiggin Bay and Church Point
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RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Richard Martin, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI North and East, [email protected]

Clare Hopps, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for North East and East England, 07824 518641, [email protected]

Richard Grange, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for North East and East England, 07483 112015, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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.

About the author

Richard Martin
Lifeboat Press Officer, Newbiggin Lifeboat Station

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