ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

The Lesser Known 999 Heroes: How Lives Are Saved At Sea

The Lesser Known 999 Heroes: How Lives Are Saved At Sea

Not all superheroes wear capes.

Anonymous

Anonymous

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RNLI

RESPECT THE WATER
RESPECT THE WATER

We can't move for superhero movies these days and while it's all well and good watching some lycra-clad nerd swinging from skyscrapers on bits of spider web, it pales in comparison to what the real-life heroes of the RNLI get up to around UK and Irish waters on a daily basis.

These are the guys and girls who swoop in when a 999 call is made to the Coastguard; putting their lives on the line to haul people out of water- and interestingly, one of the main tools they have at their disposal is the cooperation of the public. That means guys like you and I making the call when we see something potentially dangerous unfolding.

Guy Addington is an RNLI crew member, Safety Manager and real-life Action Man, and he tells us of a particularly memorable 999 call when a regular lad helped save lives.

"Year before last, in summer, two young men had come off a homemade kayak during a squall, which is a fast-moving storm, if you like," he recalled.

"The 999 call had come from another young lad who had seen this kayak go out, but was concerned he'd lost sight of them and the weather was getting bad.

RNLI article three body image
RNLI article three body image

Guy continued: "By the time we were on scene it had become very dark. Not long into that search, we spotted a light. It turned out to be the light from a mobile phone that one of these lads was holding, while both of them were clinging to a partially deflated dry bag."

Guy and his team recovered the lads and brought them onto the boat, took them ashore and called an ambulance. Both made full recoveries. "I don't think they've been out on a homemade kayak again since," Guy said.

Dialling 999 is not the first response that comes to mind for many if they spot someone in danger in the water, or even find themselves in trouble. And that's why the RNLI are encouraging people to fight their instincts in these situations, the advice is not to go in the water yourself but to stay calm and phoning the emergency services immediately.

You may not know this, but the UK Coastguard is the fourth emergency service and should be one of the options presented to a 999 caller. After receiving a call, it's the Coastguard's job to determine the most appropriate response to the situation - this could be lifeboat, Coastguard Rescue Team or maybe even it could require the use of a Coastguard helicopter. Frequently, the Coastguard will call upon the services of the brave unpaid volunteers at the RNLI to support the rescue mission.

"It's important to understand the distinction between the Coastguard and the RNLI," explains Guy. "The RNLI is a charitable organisation and our resources are made available to the Coastguard to call upon, if required, when the 999 call comes in."

Guy knows his stuff when it comes to maritime search and rescue - in fact, it's in his blood.

Born and bred in Margate, Guy follows in the footsteps of his father and grandfather before him, who both served as lifeboat crewmen. He's been volunteering for an impressive 23 years and has several roles within the RNLI. But, first and foremost, he is a lifesaver.

Guy stresses that people shouldn't hesitate to dial 999 if you notice something going wrong in the water. It crucial for the person who made the call - known as the first informant - to remain on scene, and then you can try to help - look for something to throw into the person in distress to help them float, and where public rescue equipment is available use that .

WATCH: SAS hero and TV star Ant Middleton is working with the RNLI to help raise awareness of what to do in an emergency around the water.

Last August there were 3502 calls made to the Coastguard and of all the rescues that the RNLI attends, Guy estimates that around a third of them are as a direct result of a 999 call.

"We'd urge anyone, if they see something going wrong, to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard, that way we can send help straight away."

Everyday people just like Guy put their lives on the line to save others. These guys are the real-life superheroes, and they're operating right under our noses all around the coast.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: rnli