The chief executive of the charity that saves lives at sea paid tribute to the vital work of a Norfolk lifeboat crew on a visit to their station.
Peter Sparkes, chief executive of the RNLI toured the boathouse and hovercraft hangar at Hunstanton on Thursday, 21 August and met some of the many volunteers who carry out rescues using the station's craft.
Both craft rely on shore crew, plant drivers and launch authorities to assist their lifesaving operations, while they are also supported by the station's visits, water safety and souvenir shop teams, along with fundraising arm the Hunstanton and West Norfolk RNLI Guild.
Upstairs in the crew room, Peter outlined his vision for the future of the RNLI, which celebrated its 200th anniversary last year.
It aims to bolster rescue capacity from the shore out as well as water safety education at a time when demand is rising and 95pc of rescues are carried out within five miles of land.
Peter said the RNLI's inshore lifeboats and its hovercraft now rescue 84pc of people who are saved by the charity.
'You have an inshore lifeboat and you have a hovercraft as well,' he added. 'So you see better than most how important inshore rescue is.'
While the RNLI was formed in 1824 to save shipwrecked sailors by crews using wooden rowing boats, Peter said demands on the charity have changed and most people rescued two centuries later are recreational users of the sea needing help closer to shore.
'What you see are kayakers, paddle boarders, dog walkers, fishermen - people who didn't intend to get wet that day,' he said.
'Some 27m people visited our coast last year and 9m of them couldn't swim, these people are incredibly vulnerable.'
Peter said a new class of search and rescue hovercraft was in the pipeline, with Hunstanton's 23-year-old craft expected to be replaced next summer.
He added improvements were also on the way for the fast inshore lifeboat fleet, including a 'door' in the sponson to make it easier to bring casualties aboard, improved navigation systems and night vision technology.
'It was wonderful to be in Hunstanton today,' he said after touring facilities and being shown round the craft, along with the station's souvenir shop.
'You've got a fabulous crew and it was great to see your happy and well-run station.'
Lifeboat operations manager Mike Gould said afterwards: 'It was a fantastic visit, it was great to see the chief executive popping in.
'I think he was pleasantly-surprised by the crew down here, their commitment and the support they receive from the community.'
Editor's Notes
Hunstanton lifeboat station operates the fast inshore lifeboat Spirit of West Norfolk and the search and rescue hovercraft
Hunstanton Flyer.
Like more than 200 RNLI crews around the coast of the UK and Ireland, their lifesaving work would not be possible without the kindness of those who donate to the charity that saves lives at sea.
RNLI Images
Pictures attached from the visit.
Please note credit: RNLI/Chris Bishop
RNLI Media Contacts
For more information call Chris Bishop, Hunstanton RNLI volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on 07584 147219 or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
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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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.
