Newbiggin RNLI lifeboat and Coastguard teams joint training night

The training involved the operational volunteers from Newbiggin RNLI along with Coastguard Rescue Teams from Newbiggin and Blyth for two hours on Tuesday evening.
With the lifeboat launched the scenario involved a number of casualties on the Little Bay rocks who were stranded and cut off by the tide. The casualties were lifeboat volunteers as well as the training dummy who took the role of the stretcher casualty. The coastguard teams used their swift water and rope rescue techniques to enable the casualty transfer while the lifeboat was engaged in the stretcher extraction.
Once ashore further training took place on the all important safe manual handling from the lifeboat into the care of the coastguard teams.
Mike Fraser, Lifeboat Helm commented on the training saying ' we had a positive night of training with our coastguard partners which is an essential part of our operations in saving lives. We look forward to further joint training sessions in the coming months.'

Notes to editors

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.

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

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

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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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