Lifesavers: An RNLI podcast

Season 2, Episode 1 - ’I’m going to drown’

We’re back with Season 2! While 2020 has been so uncertain, there’s still one thing that we’ve all been able to depend on in one form or another: family. And in these upcoming episodes, you’ll hear from volunteer crew members and lifeguards who have been on call throughout the pandemic to save a life at sea and bring a family back together again.In our first episode, meet two different lifesavers: Elissa, a volunteer Lifeboat Crew Member from Abersoch RNLI and Andy, a Maritime Operations Officer from HM Coastguard. You’ll hear the real 999 call they received from a 17-year-old paddleboarder at the mercy of the waves – and the story of how Andy and Elissa came to his rescue, just in time.Watch the real footage from this extraordinary rescue here: www.facebook.com/rnli/posts/10158005367428999The RNLI is completely reliant on the generosity of the public. If you're able to, it would mean so much to us if you could consider giving a kind donation – no matter how big or small – to make more rescues like this possible. Simply visit: RNLI.org/SavingFamilies.

Episode 5 - Georgia Keating

In our final episode of the series, say hello to Georgia Keating – a volunteer crew member from Crosshaven Lifeboat Station. Georgia describes what it’s like to be a young woman on a lifeboat crew, and why it’s so important to her for young girls to see her as a lifesaver; she shares how there’s never any pressure on the crew to prove themselves, regardless of a person’s age; and she lets us in on the amazing friendships she’s made since joining the RNLI.Plus, she tells the story of the day she saved a life, as the crew launched to rescue an injured fisherman at sea.  

Episode 4 - Sam Harwood

This week, it’s October half term and we head to Fistral Beach to meet Sam Harwood – a lifeguard from Newquay. As Sam explains, autumn and winter can be just as busy on the beaches as the summer, so many RNLI lifeguards are still on duty all around the UK and Channel Islands to keep people safe. In this episode, Sam shares the lesser known benefits of lifeguarding – from being able to travel and work on beaches abroad, to using it as a way to meet new friends.Plus, he shares the story of the day he saved a life, as the Fistral Beach lifeguards helped rescued 16 people from a flash rip current in the sea last year. 

Episode 3 - Lauren Cooke

For our next episode, we meet Lauren Cooke – a lifeguard and full-time student from Yorkshire. Lauren joined as an RNLI lifeguard when she was 16 years old, and she shares how the job has helped her grow in confidence over the years, offered lots of future opportunities, and how the job really isn’t anything like Baywatch.Summer may be over, but a lifeguard’s training is used all year round as Lauren discovered on a family holiday in 2018. She describes the story of the day she saved a life, when she rescued a baby from choking in a restaurant.

Episode 2 - Al Kassim

In this episode, we catch up with Al Kassim – a volunteer crew member from Tower Lifeboat Station. Al shares how being rescued at sea inspired him to join the lifeboat crew in the city he calls home, how the crew act as each other’s support network in every rescue, and even how volunteering helps him talk to his children about wider issues like mental health. Plus, he describes the story of the day he saved a life, as the crew launched at midnight to rescue someone in the River Thames.   

Episode 1 - Anna Heslop

In our debut episode, we meet Anna Heslop – a volunteer crew member from Cullercoats Lifeboat Station. Anna describes her experience of being the only woman on her lifeboat crew, the support the volunteers give each other after experiencing a difficult rescue, and the unexpected confidence boost she’s gained in all aspects of her life since joining the RNLI. Plus, she tells the story of the day she saved a life, as the crew launched to rescue a group of kayakers at sea on a stormy January afternoon.