Plymouth RNLI to feature in popular tv series Saving Lives at Sea

Now in its tenth season, Saving Lives at Sea showcases the courage of RNLI lifesavers throughout the UK and Ireland as they respond to everything from sinking ships to tidal cut-offs and from kayakers in distress to people caught in rip currents, just seconds away from drowning.

This week’s episode sees Plymouth RNLI respond to a Mayday call in May last year, when both of the station’s lifeboats launched following reports of a diver who had surfaced unresponsive about a mile south of Plymouth Breakwater.

On arrival, Plymouth RNLI’s volunteer crew began casualty care. Support soon followed from the all-weather lifeboat, with further assistance coordinated alongside partner agencies, including a doctor from a Dutch warship and Coastguard Rescue Helicopter paramedic. The diver was evacuated safely back to Millbay Marina on the all-weather lifeboat and transferred into the care of waiting medical teams from Devon Air Ambulance Critical Care Team and two ambulances from South Western Ambulance Service.

Coxswain Neil Humphrey, who also features in the episode, said:

'It was a challenging service due to the reported condition of the casualty, the close proximity to the station and the sheer number of vessels in the area at the time, making for a very dynamic situation. However, with our training, teamwork, and cooperation with partnering agencies, we were able to successfully evacuate the casualty and hand them over to South Western Ambulance Service for onward care, where the casualty made a full recovery.'

With more than 30 different lifeboat stations featured, alongside beach lifeguards, the latest 10-part series is packed full of heart-stopping rescues and emotional interviews from the lifesavers and those they rescue.

In 2024, RNLI lifeboat crews around the UK and Ireland rescued 8,259 people, saving 352 lives, while the charity’s lifeguards aided 17,068 people and saved 85 lives on some of the UK’s busiest beaches.

Notes to Editors

• Saving Lives at Sea series 10 started on Thursday 31 July at 8pm on BBC Two and iPlayer

• The series is made for the BBC by Blast! Films.

• Click this link for more information about Saving Lives at Sea

Photos

• Plymouth RNLI Crew Members in Millbay Marina - (L to R) Neil Humphrey, Kate Moore and Darran Shave.
  Photo Credit James Bainbridge (Blast! Films)
  
  
• Plymouth all-weather lifeboat heading for Millbay Marina.
  Photo Credit RNLI/Darran Shave
  
  
• Plymouth RNLI Crew Members on Plymouth Hoe - (L to R) Darran Shave, Kate Moore and Neil Humphrey.
  Photo Credit James Bainbridge (Blast! Films)

Information

Plymouth is busy station based in the Old Custom House at Millbay Marina Village, Plymouth Lifeboat Station has two lifeboats, an all-weather Severn Class lifeboat Sybil Mullen Glover and an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Annabel E Jones.

To find out more about Plymouth lifeboat station go to https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/plymouth-lifeboat-station

Plymouth RNLI Facebook page www.facebook.com/PlymouthRNLI

RNLI media contacts

• Darren Blight, Lifeboat Press Officer, Plymouth Lifeboat Station on 07984 399860 or [email protected]
  
• Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Communications Manager, on 07786 668847 or [email protected]
  
• Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Communications Lead, on 07920 818807 or [email protected]
• RNLI Duty Press Office on 01202 336789 or [email protected]

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.