East Lothian crew to star in lifesaving series finale
A back-to-back rescue undertaken by volunteers at North Berwick RNLI in August last year will feature in the season finale of Saving Lives at Sea, to be broadcast on BBC Two at 8pm on Tuesday.
Produced by Blast! Films for the BBC, and now in its ninth series, the popular TV show tells the story of the RNLI’s volunteer army of ordinary men and women who are ready to drop everything and put their lives on the line to save those of others.
The featured rescue took place one Sunday afternoon in August last year when conditions changed from a beautiful calm, sunny day to strong offshore winds catching a number of people off guard. The lifeboat was initially alerted to a capsized kayaker after their sit-on-top kayak had filled with water and overturned. They were unable to self-rescue and used their phone to call 999 for the Coastguard.
As the lifeboat rescued the two kayakers, returning them to North Berwick, they were alerted by HM Coastguard to a group of stand up paddleboarders in difficulty three nautical miles east, off nearby seacliff beach.
The episode features Interviews from helm John McCarter alongside crew members Tom Kerley and Matt Gibbons. A casualty, Sally, from the second rescue also gives her perspective of the rescue.
In 2023 RNLI lifeboats from 238 stations across the UK and Republic of Ireland launched 9,192 times, saving 355 lives, while RNLI Lifeguards saved a further 151 lives. The North Berwick lifeboat launched 21 times.
Of the RNLI’s frontline lifesavers, 97 per cent are volunteers including more than 5,700 lifeboat crew members.
In 2022 it cost the RNLI £188m to run its charitable lifesaving service, with six in ten of the lifeboat launches being funded by supporters leaving a gift in their will.
This year, as the RNLI marks its 200th anniversary it is inviting community to get involved in the celebrations. Find out more about RNLI 200.
You can also visit the charity’s volunteering pages to find out more about the different ways to support the RNLI. From lifeboat crews to school visitors, shop workers to tractor drivers, there are so many opportunities to help save lives at sea.