North Berwick RNLI’s volunteers feature on two upcoming TV programmes

Now in its tenth series, 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.

In the forthcoming episode volunteers Rhona, Sarah and Gavin face the complex extraction of an elderly casualty who has broken her leg on a remote beach.

Rhona Meikle, volunteer helm at North Berwick who features in the episode said: ‘This is the second time this series that our volunteers have featured, though with new crew! This rescue was of a badly injured walker, Lesley, who was in a lot of pain having suffered a nasty injury after being bowled over by a dog.’

‘The RNLI were first on scene in what quickly became a multi-agency rescue due to the injury and location. It’ll be difficult to watch her in pain again, but the footage shows that it isn’t just water users who the RNLI gets called out to help.’

North Berwick’s volunteers will also be on this week’s BBC Scotland’s Landward, Scotland's farming and countryside programme focusing on the issues affecting the community.

In the programme, which also features the gannets on nearby Bass Rock, presenter Rosie is on the water to take part in a paddleboard rescue with the RNLI. She hears how call-outs have surged as paddleboarding has become increasingly popular as crew members take her through paddleboarding specific safety steps.

Although the schedules appear to clash, both shows will be available on BBC iPlayer and repeated again later in the week.

Landward: Fri 3 Oct, 7.30pm BBC One Scotland, Sun 5 Oct, 9.30am BBC Two.
Saving Lives at Sea: Sun 5 Oct, 6.30pm BBC Two.

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, episode two airs on Thursday 7 August, 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

RNLI media contacts

Matthew Gibbons, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, North Berwick, [email protected]
Richard Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
24 hour RNLI Central Press Office, 01202 336789 or email [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.