Newbiggin RNLI feature on Saving Lives at Sea as it returns to BBC Two
Saving Lives at Sea returns to BBC Two this week with a new series featuring never seen before footage and interviews with Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) volunteers at Newbiggin lifeboat station.
The featured Newbiggin rescue took place late on a June evening , as darkness arrived – captured on the helmet cameras of the volunteer lifeboat crew - which saw 2 people rescued from the water after Newbiggin RNLI responded to an immediate launch.
Their training for such a scenario proved worthwhile as they heard a distant call for help in the rapid onset of darkness. The lifeboat headed to the sound and found the first person before visually locating the second person. The kayak they had been in had sunk.
After initial casualty care and safety checks carried out the lifeboat then returned to station and with assistance from HM Coastguard teams from Newbiggin and Blyth as well as the North East Ambulance Service and Police the two were checked over and transferred to the ambulance.
Ron Henderson, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Newbiggin commented: ‘Our volunteer lifeboat team at Newbiggin always go the extra mile to embrace their commitment to saving lives at sea.
‘Our volunteers respond to their pagers, day or night, simply to help others at their time of need, working with our colleagues at HM Coastguard. This remarkable rescue saved two lives and brought together all the teams to make this happen.’
On Sunday 3rd August Newbiggin RNLI will be holding their annual lifeboat day in the village so why not come along, meet our volunteers and support our fundraising. We are also looking to recruit additional volunteers with details on this link https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/newbiggin-lifeboat-station
If you missed the broadcast then you can see it via the BBC iPlayer
For more information please telephone Richard Martin, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer Newbiggin on 07980 010544 or [email protected] or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789
If you would like to find out more about Newbiggin lifeboat station, its volunteers and its heritage then take a look at the local website.
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, X, 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.