RNLI Hayling Island Lifeboat Station

23/05/2026

It's forecast to be a hot and sunny bank holiday and half-term... and the coast will be busy with people enjoying the sunshine. When planning your trip, make sure you remember and follow Sea Safety advice:

- If possible, choose a lifeguarded beach. Trained lifesavers can see dangers develop, and respond instantly if anyone gets into difficulty. (Note: Hayling Beach does not have lifeguards). But.. our Water Safety Team will be at West Wittering Beach tomorrow, with tips and advice on how to stay safe at the beach. Stop by and say hello if you're there!

- When you’re heading to the beach, it’s important to know the risks - check the weather and tides before you set off. If going to a beach you’re not familiar with, remember there may be rip currents and tidal changes you are not aware of.

- Always carry a means of calling for help, and tell someone your plans before you set-off. If you see someone in trouble, or in an emergency - call 999 and ask for The Coastguard.

- If you do find yourself in difficulty in the water, make sure you know the steps to 'Float to Live' - it could save your life:

- Relax and try to breathe normally.
- Tilt your head back and submerge your ears.
- Get your breathing under control, and call for help if possible.
- Use your hands to help you stay afloat.

Check out the video to learn more about Float to Live: https://source.rnli.org.uk/asset/eccf90e3-3f96-420b-81f3-870c66af75a4/Float-to-Live-Social-Media-video.mov

Enjoy the bank holiday and sunny weather - and stay safe!

12/05/2026

It’s been a busy few weeks with shouts, and the weekly training never stops for the crew at Hayling. Sunday’s exercise afloat involved a search, then tow and recovery of a ‘casualty’ vessel. Both the Atlantic 85 and The D Class took a turn in setting up a tow and recovering the vessel back to Sparkes Marina. Many thanks to Dale Marine ltd for the supply of the ‘casualty vessel’.

09/05/2026

It’s been a busy Spring for Hayling crew, with six shouts in five days highlighting both the unpredictability and danger of the sea - as well as the dedication of our volunteers.

Incidents included more than one kitesurfing call out, a shoreline search for a missing person, a medical emergency aboard a yacht at Itchenor, and a vessel aground at Northney Marina.

One incident saw crews rescue a kitesurfer who had recovered his board to the shore and then re-entered the water to retrieve drifting kite equipment. He had underestimated the strength of the tide and was found almost a mile offshore without a lifejacket. The Hayling crew on the Atlantic 85 found him, despite the challenging conditions (and him being in a black wetsuit and balaclava as dusk was falling). They recovered him from the water, also collecting his remaining equipment (now over 2 miles away) and took him back to the waiting Coastguard Team on the beach.

Another shout was to a lady who had suffered a serious arm injury in a fall on her sailing yacht at Itchenor. Two lifeboat crew boarded the vessel and administered casualty care and supported her until the ambulance arrived (almost two hours later!)

The week also included an unusual find during training — a partially submerged memorial bench drifting in the harbour, which crews removed as a hazard to navigation.

⚠️ Water Safety Reminder:

- Never enter the water to attempt a rescue - call 999 and ask for The Coastguard. (Too many people drown trying to help others).
- If swimming - make sure you have someone watching from the beach who has a means to call for help if needed.
- ALWAYS wear a lifejacket or suitable buoyancy aid when on the water - it could save your life.
- If you do find yourself in trouble in the water - Float to Live: Tilt your head back, relax, use your hands to stay afloat, and spread your arms and legs to improve stability.

05/05/2026

All at Hayling Lifeboat Station extend their deepest condolences on the tragic loss of two dedicated Marine Rescue NSW volunteers, who made the ultimate sacrifice in their courageous efforts and unwavering commitment to help others and save lives at sea.

The loss of these two heroic rescuers is a solemn reminder of the risks faced by volunteers - who willingly put their own lives in danger to help others. Our thoughts are with their families, friends, and fellow volunteers during this incredibly difficult time.

Our Station Flag will be lowered to half mast tomorrow as a mark of respect to their courage, bravery and selflessness.

Last night was the darkest night ever experienced by Marine Rescue NSW.

Marine Rescue NSW volunteers answer the call for help 24/7 and last night six members from Marine Rescue Ballina did just that. They launched with a single mission, to save lives on the water and assist a yacht, reported to be in difficulty off the South Ballina break wall.

Tragically, two of our volunteers lost their lives during the response.

Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Todd Andrews said the devastating loss is a solemn reminder of the risks faced by volunteers who serve their communities.

“These two men were serving their local community and have made the ultimate sacrifice to help others.

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of the deceased, their fellow crew members, the brave radio operators who handled the difficult communications during the incident, the entire Marine Rescue NSW family and the wider Ballina community during this incredibly difficult time.

“We are supporting our volunteers and their families through professional counselling and chaplaincy support.

“We ask that the privacy of those involved and their families be respected during this difficult time,” Commissioner Andrews said.

14/04/2026

Some of Hayling RNLI's fund-raising team attended Hayling Fire Station's Open Day at the weekend and had a stall packed with colourful RNLI souvenirs of all kinds. It was a busy, successful and very enjoyable day - and a wonderful total of £527 was raised towards enabling our lifeboats and crew to continue their life-saving work. Thanks to the Fire Station crew for inviting us to the event - and to all of our supporters who came along.



Photo L-R: Fund raisers: Rosy Raines, Tonia Pepperell, Lorna Mansell and Siri Young, and Hayling's LOM Graham Raines

08/03/2026

Hayling's first ever all-female crew Landmark Launch on service!

The pagers went off just before 9am on Saturday - with a request from the Coastguard for Hayling Lifeboat to assist a person cut off by the incoming tide at the Witterings.

It was the perfect timing for Hayling’s first ever all-female crew to launch on service - and they set-off in the D Class to cross the harbour entrance towards West Wittering.

Once they arrived on scene they saw a lady with two dogs, who had been stranded on the sand bank. She was not a ‘regular’ walker at Wittering, having come for a change of scenery from her ‘usual ‘beach walk near Worthing. She had turned and started walking back to shore and realised the tide had come in behind her. She tried wading through the deeper channel but once it got to waist height she decided it was too deep to continue, and so she made her way back to the sandbank and called 999 and asked for the Coastguard.

Once the lifeboat got close, one of the crew got out and walked to the casualty on the sand and escorted her and her two dogs back to the lifeboat. Once onboard they were then taken back to the safety of the beach, where Selsey Coastguard Team were waiting.

Helm Sharon Swan, Tier 2 crew Janet Denman and crew member Georgia McKenzie - who was on her first launch on service :) all said it was fantastic to be part of the first ever all-female crew landmark launch on service to mark International Women’s Day 2026 - it’s certainly one to remember!

Georgia was especially proud to be part of Hayling’s first all-female crew, marking IWD - as it was her first shout! She said: “Being part of the Hayling Island RNLI lifeboat crew is something I’m incredibly proud of, especially as a woman in the crew💗 It’s empowering to be part of a team that trusts and relies on each other when it matters and treats each other like a family.”

08/03/2026

It’s International Women’s Day today and we celebrate the wonderful women volunteers at our station, across the RNLI… and also all those women who support our volunteers in ‘the background’ - who hold the fort when Dad dashes out when the pager goes off in the middle of dinner on a Saturday night!

The first woman joined a lifeboat crew back in 1969, and from the beginning women have played a key part in the RNLI, raising millions of pounds in fundraising to enable the charity to continue launching to save lives at sea.

The theme of IWD this year is ‘Give to Gain’ - and all of our volunteers will agree - you get back what you give (and more) when you volunteer with the RNLI. You learn new skills, make new friends and experience new things. You give back to the community by dedicating your time and effort to help save a life - and not many people have the privilege of knowing how that feels.

Our Fund-raising co-ordinator, Siri Young, has been volunteering at Hayling RNLI for over 20 years now and tells us: “Volunteering is a great way to meet people and give something back to the community - I would thoroughly recommend it! I am very proud to represent Hayling Island Lifeboat Station, and it’s extremely rewarding to be part of a wonderful ‘one crew’ who are all dedicated to the mission to save lives at sea.”

Huge thanks to you all.

12/01/2026

Hayling had their second shout of the year, when the pagers went off at 16.53 this afternoon. The D Class launched, closely followed by the Atlantic - further to reports of an empty kayak seen floating at Northney. After a while searching the crew spoke to people on scene and it was confirmed it was not a kayak, but something that had fallen off a boat in the marina. The Coastguard stood the lifeboats down and they returned to the station just before 6pm.

08/01/2026

We're currently recruiting for a Volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager - to apply for the role use the QR code or go to: https://volunteering.rnli.org/vacancy/lifeboat-operations-manager-hayling-island-601336.html

04/01/2026

Bill Hathaway's fantastic Christmas musical light show on Havant Road has raised a tremendous £927 (so far) for Hayling RNLI - and we can't thank Bill enough for the remarkable amount of time and effort he makes each year to support us as a charity.

If you have not yet had the opportunity to donate - and show your appreciation for Bill's wonderful production and support for the RNLI then the link is still open:
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/haylinglifeboat2025