All-female crew launch Hastings RNLI lifeboat to rescue swimmer
When Hastings RNLI was alerted to a swimmer in distress off Bexhill on Monday 9 May, an all-female shore crew were first on the scene to launch the lifeboat.
The volunteers were quick to respond but fortunately by the time the lifeboat arrived the swimmer had made it safely back to shore. The shore crew, made up of both experienced and newly trained volunteers, ensured that the lifeboat reached the sea quickly while following safety procedures on the beach.
The RNLI volunteers received the alert at 3:29pm and launched the inshore D class lifeboat (ILB) Richard Francis at 3:40pm. Long-time volunteer, but recently trained driver, Holly Lane drove the Bobcat, the vehicle responsible for getting the lifeboat to the sea. Linda Revill acted as Beach Marshal, while Sarah Milne took the role of Head Launcher, supported by Lynda Franklin who formed part of the shore crew. Sarah has also recently been appointed Hastings RNLI Water Safety Officer.
Holly Lane, Hastings RNLI Volunteer, said: ‘We all respond as quickly as we can when we receive an alert and Monday was no different. All volunteers, no matter their gender, work as one crew and many of us are trained in multiple roles, not all require us to head out to sea.
We were relieved the swimmer was recovered safely and we’re glad we were contacted and able to respond so quickly.’
Hastings RNLI is based on East Beach Street, The Stade, in Old Town Hastings, and is currently recruiting for a Volunteer Branch Event Assistant. For anyone that might be interested in this role, or any other RNLI volunteer positions in Hastings, Rye and surrounding areas details can be found here.
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Notes to editors
Photo: stock photo of the Hastings D class inshore lifeboat Richard Francis. Credit: Kt Bruce/RNLI. This press release and photos as well as previous stories about Hastings RNLI can be found on our website: https://rnli.org/news-and-media
RNLI media contacts
For more information, please contact Johanna Whitaker, Hastings Volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, on 07769653388 or [email protected]. Or Clive Mayhew, Hastings Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07711 673138 or [email protected]
Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer for the South East and London (07785) 296252 [email protected] the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336 789 or email [email protected] RNLI online: For more information on the RNLI please visit http://www.rnli.org/. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre.
Key facts about the RNLI
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 237 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 180 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.
The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.
Learn more about the RNLI For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter 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 or by email.
The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity 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 142,700 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter 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.