Hunstanton lifeboat sails through drills with Brancaster Coastwatch team
Hunstanton lifeboat, Hunstanton lifeboat, this is NCI Brancaster... NCI Brancaster, this is Hunstanton lifeboat, go ahead... Hunstanton lifeboat, casualty is at 10 O'clock, 50 metres... NCI Brancaster received, we have eyes on, on way to recover.
The exercise simulated a surfer, swimmer or beach-goer getting into difficulty in fast-flowing tides off the beach.
NCI volunteers kept eyes on the 'casualty', whilst taking turns on the radio to direct the lifeboat crew.
"It's been a good learning experience for everybody," said John Allen, station manager at NCI Brancaster. "It's been an invaluable lesson."
Ralph Hamlet, who's both a launch authority at Hunstanton RNLI and a watchkeeper at the NCI station, added: "The guys have all learned a lot today, it's been a good experience for them all."
The NCI, founded in 1994, now has 61 stations around the UK coastline and 2,600 volunteers who give up their time to keep our shores safe.
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.