RNLI Blackpool

02/06/2026

This week is National Volunteers Week in the UK, and we take a moment to celebrate our Blackpool RNLI exceptional and committed volunteers. Everyone at Blackpool RNLI are volunteers in their respective roles, so to just take a moment to recognise those roles that enable the Lifeboat Station to put three inshore Lifeboats on the water, and it is opportune to highlight this commitment after the busiest week we have known at Blackpool.

First is our volunteer operational crew, who are experienced and exceptionally well qualified, importantly answer the pager and attend the Station in minutes. Committed to weekly training, our helms and crew are the front end of the operational delivery.

Behind the crew are a small volunteer village that get them on the water. With thanks and recognition to our Lifeboat Operations Manager with hours of commitment, our Launch Authorities who make the tough launch decisions, our cruical drivers for the Landrover and the Bendy Tractor, and our Shore crew volunteers who are the next generation in training.

And behind this group are our very important support network which includes the shop and visitor centre. Our shop volunteers are invaluable, and oversee one of the most successful RNLI outlets. But they are not simply shop assistants, they are the public facing ambassadors for Blackpool RNLI, engaging with thousands of visitors a year, including many school visits. They are part of the very important fund raising team of volunteers, and backed up by a water safety education program.

To all our volunteers, this is your week for recognition. THANK YOU.

Photos - 1. Blackpool RNLI volunteers. 2. Blackpool RNLI Lifeboat Station Lifeboat Washdown

01/06/2026

Blackpool RNLI volunteers were paged this morning at 6.30am to a concern for welfare of a person entering the sea off Central Promenade. A D class lifeboat was trailered to the waters edge at low tide, but not launched. The volunteer crew entered the water and assisted the casualty to shore, and handed to the waiting North West Ambulance service for assessment.

Blackpool RNLI can also confirm that their volunteer crews were paged at 8.03pm on Saturday 30th May 2026 to attend the beach off Cleveleys to two persons cut off by the incoming tide. Both the Atlantic 85 and a D class Lifeboats were launched by crews. On arrival, the casualties had been recovered by Coastguard Rescue Officers to the beach. Both lifeboats were beached and five Blackpool RNLI crew, including one of our North West Ambulance volunteers, made onto the beach with medical equipment and oxygen from the Lifeboats to assist the Coastguard staff with immediate casualty care. Joined by NWAS paramedics, Lancashire Fire and Rescue and Lancashire Police, the RNLI crews remained and assisted with the transfer of the casualties to waiting ambulances.

With the news from Lancashire Police that one casualty has died and the second is critical from this incident, the thoughts of all volunteers at Blackpool RNLI, and the wider RNLI community are with those casualties, and their family and friends.

Saturday evenings call was the 16th in 8 days for the Blackpool RNLI volunteers, a sad culmination of the busiest week for Blackpool search and rescue services. As today, Blackpool RNLI and other rescue partners remain ready to respond and keep the waters off Blackpool and the wider area safe.

If you see anything of concern, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Photos Blackpool RNLI

31/05/2026

29/05/2026

At 8.50pm Friday evening, Blackpool RNLI volunteers were paged by HM Coastguard to a concern for safety of a swimmer off the Cliffs Hotel. Both D class Lifeboats, Blackpool Endeavor and Phyllis Rowen were launched by crews and made to the area. On arrival, the person of concern had self recovered to the Promenade area, and was with Coastguard officers on the shoreline. At this point, both Lifeboats were stood down and returned to the Lifeboat Station to be washed down and made ready for the next call.

This was the 14th call for service in the past seven days. Earlier this evening, our Lifeboat Press Officer appeared in BBC North West Tonight being interviewed about the deployment spike and giving advice on basic water safety. He also reiterated that seconds matter, and therefore any concern should be reported to HM Coastguard through calling 999.

Photo RNLI library Blackpool D class at sea

29/05/2026

At 10.05 am, this morning, Blackpool RNLI volunteers were paged by HM Coastguard to respond to South Pier to cover an ongoing incident with Blackpool Police. A volunteer crew launched the stations Atlantic 85 Lifeboat and made to the area on standby. After an hour on scene, they were stood down to return to the lifeboat station, with no further action required. This is the 13th callout in the past seven days.

In return to the station at high tide, given the sea state, the helm made the decision that the recovery of the Atlantic 85 should be a net recovery. This entails a front on approach into a catch net set up on the trailer, the video here shows this mornings recovery.

29/05/2026

At 12.57am, earlier this morning, Blackpool RNLI pagers brought the volunteer crews to the lifeboat station for the 12th time in seven days. On this occasion, HM Coastguard and Blackpool Police had concern for the safety of a person believed in the sea around the North Pier area. A volunteer crew launched D Class Lifeboat Phyllis Rowan, and commenced searches in the area.

After the search was commenced, they crew were stood down with the matter having been resolved by community partners on shore. The lifeboat was returned to the Lifeboat Station, washed down and prepared for the next call.

With thanks to our community partners
HM Coastguard Fleetwood
HM Coastguard Lytham
Lancashire Police
North West Ambulance Service



Photo Blackpool RNLI Fleetwood

28/05/2026

At 7.46pm, Thursday 28 May 2026, Blackpool RNLI volunteers were paged for the 11th callout in seven days, and this one was potentially one of the more serious. Reports were received by HM Coastguard of a number of children in the sea under the pier in difficulty, with the tide in to the wall. The first volunteer crew to the lifeboat station launched D class inshore lifeboat Phyllis Rowen, and were on scene within four minutes. They immediately located three casualties, two children and and adult all clinging onto pier stanchions, with crashing waves. The lifeboat was manoeuvred alongside the pier stanchions in turn to allow the crew to safely pull the children into the boat.

With the adult higher up the Pier supports, and a second crew on scene in the Atlantic 85 by now, the D class crew made the decision out of urgency to deliver the children to paramedics waiting on the shoreline by south pier, and for the Atlantic 85 to complete the rescue of the adult.

With all three casualties back on land, both lifeboats returned to the lifeboat station, where they were washed down and prepared for the next call.

As today, if you see anything of concern at sea, or on the beach, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. And as today, minutes can save a life.

With thanks to all our community partners, including North West Ambulance Service and Blackpool Police.

The RNLI is a charity and dedicated to Saving Lives at Sea.

28/05/2026

After the busy weekend, our Blackpool RNLI volunteers have continued keeping the local seas safe. Tuesday afternoon saw the teamwork in action with our neighbours RNLI Fleetwood all weather boat. Following a request and page from HM Coastguard, a volunteer crew launched Blackpool’s Atlantic 85 to assist with the recovery of a broken down fishing vessel. Assisting with securing the vessel and transferring a Fleetwood RNLI volunteer onto the casualty, the vessel was then towed for recovery to Fleetwood, allowing Blackpool's Atlantic crew to return.

At 2.15pm Wednesday, Blackpool RNLI’s pagers went for the tenth time in six days. This tasking was for two paddle boarders swept out to sea by the offshore wind off Cleveleys. The crew launched the Blackpool Atlantic 85 and made to the area.

Whilst en-route, a Blue Mink Boat Charters vessel crew were close by and responded to a HM Coastguard request for any nearby assistance. They secured the casualties, who were 1.2 miles offshore by this time, and then transferred on arrival of the Blackpool Atlantic 85 lifeboat crew. Immediate casualty care was given for hypothermia, and the Atlantic crew returned the casualties to the Cleveleys Beach where Coastguard Officers and the North West Ambulance Service were waiting.

A positive outcome, but this does highlight the dangers of an offshore wind and also the danger of the still very cold sea, still no where near the air temperature. In this case, the paddle boarders had all the correct equipment, but remain fortunate that HM Coastguard were alerted and a timely rescue made with public and RNLI resources.

As in the case, if you see or have any concerns, please call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. Minutes really can make the difference for a positive outcome.

With thanks to Blue Mink Boat Charters operating out of Fleetwood, HM Coastguard Fleetwood and North West Ambulance Service

26/05/2026

As we told you earlier, your Blackpool RNLI volunteer started the weekend with three callouts. With a further page on Sunday evening at 6.39pm, the Blackpool volunteers were tasked to a person having entered the sea at high tide from North Pier. As the crew prepared to launch one of the class D lifeboats, they were stood down with the person having been assisted to shore with a lifering. This one callout shows how important the Blackpool Council Beach Patrol liferings are.

But the peak was yet to come with four pages on Bank Holiday Monday. At 6.18pm, the Blackpool RNLI volunteer crew were paged to respond to a Jetski broken down one mile off Central Pier and drifting. D class Blackpool Endeavour was launched and recovered the disabled craft and casualties to the Central Beach.

At 8.43pm, the second page came in for a person seen struggling in the sea off Central Pier. Volunteer crews again immediately launched D class Blackpool Endeavour and made to the area, at which time Blackpool Police confirmed the person had made it to shore.

The next tasking came whilst the volunteer crews were washing down the D Class, for a report of kayakers struggling off Rossall Beach. The launch authority approved the launch of the Atlantic 85, resulting in that lifeboat being launched at 9.25pm. On arriving on scene, it was confirmed by shore Coastguard officers that the kayakers had made it safely to shore.

The final callout was at 1.18am, this Tuesday morning with a cause for concern of a person in the sea near the Metropole. Blackpool RNLI volunteers launched D class Blackpool Endeavour and made to the area to commence searching. They were later stood down after shore patrols were able to conclude the tasking.

Making 8 pager callouts for the holiday weekend, we at Blackpool RNLI thank our many volunteers for responding during such a busy weekend. Whilst the focus is on the operational lifeboat crew, with each lifeboat needing three experienced and qualified crew, there also needs to be drivers to launch, launch authorities, head launchers and our invaluable shore crew. To the whole team, and their families who are always impacted, thank you for your volunteering commitment.

As ever, with the good weather continuing, please take care around the water and be aware of your surroundings. As happened this weekend, if you see anything of concern, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

24/05/2026

3 pagers in two days for the Blackpool RNLI volunteers. Friday saw the pager sounding at 2.17 pm and 3.40pm for two separate incidents, both of which were resolved with the volunteer crew assembled but before launching.

At 10.11pm Saturday evening, the pager went again for the volunteers, resulting in the launch of the Atlantic 85 lifeboat to a report of a person in the sea near to Red Bank Road. The lifeboat was arriving on scene when they were cancelled with the person now on land. Returned to the lifeboat station to wash down and prepare for the next call.

Reminder that as yesterday, if you see anything of concern, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Thanks to our partner agencies at HM Coastguard and Blackpool Police.

Photos Blackpool RNLI