RNLI National news

HM The Queen visits Eyemouth

Rachel Martin

HM The Queen was introduced to volunteer members of Eyemouth RNLI lifeboat crew yesterday (Thursday 2 July) during a Royal visit to the Scottish Borders town.

Members of the local lifeboat crew were lined along the quay with the Trent Class RNLI lifeboat ‘Barclaycard Crusader’ moored behind...

Hot weather warning: if you're heading to the beach, remember to stay safe

Laura Fennimore

With temperatures forecast to soar this week, those planning a trip to the beach to make the most of the sunshine are being urged by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to ‘be beachwise’ by choosing a lifeguarded beach and taking the right precautions to make sure they stay safe and remember their day at the beach for the right reasons.

Hot weather inevitably means more people heading to the Great British seaside so lifesaving charity, the RNLI, is urging beach-goers – particularly those planning to use the water – to put the safety of themselves and their families first by always choosing a lifeguarded beach and swimming between the red and yellow flags...

RNLI Dungeness lifeboat volunteers help rescue plane crash pilot in English Channel

Katie Wilton

The volunteer crew of Dungeness Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) – the charity that saves lives at sea – all-weather lifeboat launched at approximately 1455 hours this afternoon (Sunday 28 June 2009) to go to the aid of an air-craft pilot whose plane had crashed into the English Channel.

The pilot of the plane ditched his small aircraft into the sea approximately four miles south west of Dungeness Point...

Five RNLI lifeboats search for missing swimmers in Bristol Channel

Katie Wilton

Five Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboats, two from Weston-super-Mare (Avon), two from Burnham-on-Sea (Somerset) and an all-weather lifeboat from Barry Dock (Vale of Glamorgan, Wales) were involved in the search for two male swimmers who got into difficulty in the Bristol Channel off the Birnbeck Island beach in Weston-Super-Mare on Tuesday evening (23 June 09).

The RNLI’s Weston-super-Mare based volunteer crew launched the inshore Atlantic 75 (7...

New man at the RNLI helm

Roselyne Crowther

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution today announces the appointment of its new Chief Executive when the current CEO Andrew Freemantle retires this Autumn – Paul Boissier will be taking the helm at the lifeboat charity in September.

The appointment has recently been made by the Institution’s Chairman and Trustees following stiff competition for one of the charity sector’s most rewarding and prestigious jobs...

A hive of activity for RNLI crew at Looe

Laurie Watson

The RNLI lifeboat crew at Looe, Cornwall, received their most unusual shout on Wednesday 3 June at 1pm when they were called to assist a yacht being plagued by a swarm of bees, one and a half miles south of Polperro, Cornwall.

The couple on board from London were sailing from Fowey to Newton Ferries when a swarm of bees settled on the yacht...

RNLI searches for two million sea goers to rescue regular-giving to lifesaving charity

Katie Wilton

The RNLI is today officially announcing its new Serious Fun! fundraising campaign, in a year when the charity’s financial free reserves are at their lowest level in over a decade. The Serious Fun! campaign – sponsored by Helly Hansen – aims to increase regular donations to the charity among all leisure marine and watersports enthusiasts...

Surf's up! School children learn to surf safely with RNLI lifeguards

Laura Fennimore

Children from schools around the UK are preparing to hit the surf with RNLI lifeguards as they take part in a unique scheme, run by the RNLI charity, to teach surf safety skills and how to stay safe at the beach.
Throughout June, July and September, 2,000 students from 96 schools in Norfolk, Pembrokeshire, Sunderland, Cornwall, Devon and Dorset will be taking part in the RNLI’s unique Hit The Surf programme – developing their surf safety skills and learning important advice from the beach safety experts, RNLI lifeguards...

Tombstoning and coasteering: Essential safety advice from the RNLI following tragic fatalities

Laura Fennimore

Within the past week, there have been two fatalities as a result of people tombstoning and taking part in coasteering without being organised by a professional provider. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is urging anyone considering taking part in these high-risk activities to be cautious and take the correct safety measures at all times...

Couple say they owe their lives to Dunbar Lifeboat crew

David Johnston

A Swedish couple rescued from mountainous seas and severe gale 9 say they owe their lives to Dunbar’s RNLI lifeboat crew. Jonas and Ingrid Akerblom were 37 miles North East of Dunbar on Friday night when they put out a distress call as their 24 foot boat was battered by 10 metre high waves...