Happisburgh volunteers called into action on very hot day

The crew searched towards Eccles and found an inflatable with no one on board; the inflatable was an Orca. The crew recovered the Orca and did a shoreline search to check no one had fallen off the inflatable. Finding no one in trouble, they then returned to station and made ready for the next call out.

Chris Risby said: 'This was a callout with good intent, if you see anything that looks out of place or you think there is someone in trouble or danger then call 999 and ask for the Coastguard, we are happy to check things out.'

The water safety team advice is not to use inflatables in the sea, as winds can take you out to sea so quickly, if you take one to the beach and it floats out to sea, then please call the Coastguard and tell them.

Happisburgh volunteers are gearing up for their Summer Open Day:

RNLI Happisburgh Lifeboat Open Day, Sunday 2 August 2026, 11am to 4pm, at Cart Gap NR12 0QL. Come and support your local Lifesavers.

There will be fun for all the family, the opportunity to see the lifeboat Russell Pickering and to meet the crew. RNLI lifeguards will also be attending who are celebrating their 25 years of service this year, keeping people safe on their beaches.

There will also be live music from The Fontaine’s and The Norwich Ukulele Society, a Tombola, home made bakes and cakes and a BBQ and refreshments.

The Water Safety Team will be on hand to give advice on how to enjoy time in or near water and to come home safely at the end of the day.

You will be able to speak to any of the crew about the rewarding opportunities on offer at the station and how to possibly join the ‘one crew’ to become a lifesaver. There are many roles to find out about.

All the volunteers are looking forward to welcoming people to RNLI Happisburgh Lifeboat Open Day.

Notes to editors

Happisburgh Currently Operates:

· D-Class, D - 813 “Russell Pickering”

· Community Water Safety Team

· Visitors Centre

· Shop

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Philip Smith, 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.