Donate now

Stromness RNLI lifeboat coxswain brings calm

Lifeboats News Release

Saving lives at sea isn't always about searching all night; judging the swell below a cliff or grasping an arm in the water. Sometimes all that is required is the calm voice of a lifeboat coxswain.


Casualty is brightly lit with lifeboat standing by to the left

RNLI/Richard Clubley

Lifeboat standing by
Download image
Last week Stromness RNLI lifeboat responded to a tasking from HM Coastguard who received a distress call from a large fishing boat run aground at the base of cliffs close to the Old Man of Hoy, Orkney.

When the lifeboat Violet Dorothy and Kathleen arrived on scene the crew, fearful their boat was about to capsize, were preparing to abandon ship. Stromness RNLI lifeboat Coxswain - Kevin Manson - assured them they'd be fine and persuaded them to wait until the helicopter arrived. In the event all 17 crew were winched to safety without getting their feet wet. How different it might have been if they'd taken to the water - close to rocks and with a strong, Atlantic swell running.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Richard Clubley, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Scotland, [email protected]

Natasha Rushby, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected] 

Linda Barclay, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, [email protected]  

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [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 Clubley
Lifeboat Press Officer, Stromness

Categories