Chiswick RNLI volunteer awarded commendation

In May last year, Mark Pusey, who volunteers as lifeboat crew and press officer at Chiswick RNLI, was off duty and passing in his car, when he became concerned for a woman standing near the water. Mark stopped his car and approached the woman, recognising that she was in distress.

Mark didn’t think twice but spoke to and built a rapport with her. While with her he was able to contact the London Coastguard and Police, discreetly saying he was ‘calling his mum to say he’d be late for lunch’, so he didn't upset the woman further.

By the time police arrived on scene, Mark had brought the woman to safety and remained with her, assisting officers to keep her safe until the London Ambulance service arrived. The woman was then taken to a place of safety for appropriate medical care.

Had it not been for Mark’s intervention, the young woman could have come to significant harm. As a volunteer crew member at the RNLI, Mark's training, dedication and compassion is exemplary and his lifesaving actions show that a volunteer's commitment to their community extends far beyond wearing a uniform.

Mark said: ‘It’s thanks to the years of service I’ve had with the RNLI that I had the confidence to help. You never know what people are going through and dealing with. Be nice, be kind, and be someone that you’d want your loved ones to meet if they were struggling.’

It’s not the first time Mark, a musician, has received recognition for going above and beyond to save a life. In 2025 he received an Operational Command Unit (OCU) Commander’s Commendation for bravery when he saved a person from drowning in the Thames.

Andy Mayo, Station Manager at RNLI Chiswick, said: ‘Mark’s actions that day demonstrated exceptional courage, compassion, and professionalism in the face of a highly challenging situation. His ability to remain calm and intervene decisively when a life was at immediate risk reflects the very highest standards of the RNLI.

This incident shows that our training, experience, and commitment to saving lives do not begin and end on the lifeboat. Mark recognised a person in crisis, stepped forward without hesitation, and stayed with her until she could be handed into the care of the emergency services. His actions undoubtedly prevented a tragedy and gave that young woman the opportunity to receive the help and support she needed.’

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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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