Seaside resort pays its last tribute to lifeboat stalwart who died at 46
A SEASIDE resort came to a standstill yesterday as people paid their last respects to a lifeboatman who died at 46.
Lee Cowling died on Friday, June 5 and his funeral cortege passed along Filey’s foreshore yesterday to allow residents of the town to pay their last respects to him before a service at Octon Crematorium near Driffield.
Large numbers of people lined the route and police officers bowed their heads as the procession passed. Members of the Filey Sea Cadets unit formed a guard of honour on the deck of a lifeboat.
Mr Cowling had been a volunteer at the RNLI station in Filey since he was 18.
He is believed to have died after collapsing and his mother Irene thanked emergency services who tried to save his life.
In a social media post she said: “Just wanted to say thank you to the young man, who I now know is called Mark, who ran to my son Lee’s aid and started CPR, for doing all he could, and the Filey police officers, ambulance crew and everyone at Scarborough Hospital for all their incredible care. Unfortunately he lost his battle.”
Mr Cowling is survived by Irene and his father and brother, who are both called Richard. He played a pivotal role in a dramatic rescue in March 2015, when the inshore lifeboat capsized in heavy seas while searching for a missing person.
A tribute from RNLI Filey read: “Lee was a lifeboat stalwart and it was through his dedication, drive and commitment that our annual raft race was rekindled in 2015, going on to attract thousands of visitors each year.”
A Justgiving page has been set up to raise money for the RNLI in Filey in his memory.
It was through his dedication our annual raft race was rekindled in 2015. A tribute to Lee Cowling from RNLI Filey.