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Training success for Hartlepool RNLI volunteers

Lifeboats News Release

Two Hartlepool RNLI crewmembers who have recently passed their Tier 2 qualification which marks the final pass-out for volunteer crew members, certifying them as fully operational and competent to respond to emergencies at sea are Kayley Turner and Laura Wallis.


RNLI/Matt Adams

Hartlepool RNLI crewmembers Laura Wallis and Kayley Turner(right)
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Kayley who is an Executive Assistant to a chief executive said 'Laura and I proved to the assessor that all the training has been paying off to successfully pass our ALB Tier 2 crew assessments.
For anyone outside the lifeboat world, Tier 2 is a pretty big milestone. It’s the point where months of training ashore and at sea all come together — covering everything from seamanship, helming, towing and anchoring, to a bit of navigation, emergency procedures and working effectively as a crew when things get busy. Basically, proving you can stay calm while the sea does its best to make life difficult.

There’s been a lot of learning, plenty of early starts and for me, more than a few moments of “that could have gone better”… but it all came together in the end.

Massive thanks to everyone at the station who’s helped along the way and shared knowledge.

Fellow volunteer Laura Wallis who is a business owner said 'We have both dedicated a lot of time and energy into our training especially over the past few months. It has been an extremely rewarding process knowing that we get to be a part of saving lives at sea. The training incorporates many aspects of maritime knowledge and skills. The navigation aspect of the training has definitely been my favourite so far.
Hartlepool RNLI coxswain Matt Adams said .'Well done, with the amount of time and effort Laura and Kayley have put in to their training it was no surprise that they successfully completed their Tier 2 plans.
Laura and Kayley are both great examples of our dedicated crew at the lifeboat station. I’m looking forward to seeing them both put these skills in to action saving lives at sea'.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Tom Collins, 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.

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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

Tom Collins
Lifeboat Press Officer, Hartlepool Lifeboat Station

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