Southport Offshore Rescue Trust (Southport Lifeboat)

26/03/2026

Southport Lifeboat Open Day – Good Friday!

📅 3rd April
⏰ From 10am
📍 Lifeboat Station, Marine Drive, Southport

It’s a great chance to see what we do, meet the crew, and get a closer look at the lifeboats and equipment that help us save lives at sea.

We look forward to seeing you there!

For more information, visit our website www.southport-lifeboat.org.uk

20/03/2026

CALL OUT – 20/03/26 – 07:44 - Our Arctic 24 lifeboat, alongside our ATV quad bikes and rescue trailer, was tasked by Holyhead Coastguard to assist in a multi‑agency search for a person reported in the water off Formby Point.

The lifeboat Heather White launched promptly from Southport, while our quad team made their way along the beach towards Formby. Our drone team also deployed in the incident support vehicle to support the search from the air.

All assets arrived on scene and commenced coordinated sea and shoreline searches, working alongside multiple emergency service partners including Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, RNLI New Brighton Lifeboat, and HM Coastguard Rescue Teams from HM Coastguard Southport, HM Coastguard Crosby and Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team.

The incident was subsequently declared a major incident by Merseyside Police. Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 336 and our D‑Class lifeboat Christopher Taylor were tasked to join the search.

As the D‑Class was launching, New Brighton’s lifeboat located the casualty in the water close to Hightown.

New Brighton Lifeboat, assisted by Southport Lifeboat crew, transported the casualty ashore, where our quad team was waiting on the beach. The casualty was transferred into the rescue trailer and given immediate medical care by our crew while being evacuated to Lifeboat Road car park.

At the car park, the casualty was handed over to waiting North West Ambulance crews and taken to hospital for further treatment.

We wish the casualty a full and speedy recovery.

Our sincere thanks go to all agencies involved in this coordinated response, which resulted in a positive outcome.

18/03/2026

CALL OUT - 10/03/2026 - 23:01 - Southport Lifeboat quads were tasked to assist an individual in difficulty on Southport Beach.

The quads left the boathouse and quickly located the casualty with assistance from the drone.

The individual was brought back to the lifeboat station for medical care before being transferred into an ambulance.

CALL OUT - 13/03/2026 - 15:10 - Holyhead Coastguard requested the assistance of our lifeboat and quad bikes following reports of a person in difficulty in the water at Formby Beach.

Our quads dispatched quickly whilst our lifeboat made its way to standby on the tideline.

The quads arrived on scene and found the individual in the care of Merseyside Police.

Our volunteers assisted the police and casualty off the beach before being stood down.

25/02/2026

CALL OUT - 18/02/2026 - 02:47 - The pagers sounded early on Wednesday morning following a request from HM Coastguard to assist in the search for a missing person at Ainsdale.

The quads left the boathouse to undertake a search of the beach, which was aided by the drone. Shortly after arriving on scene, the person had been located by police further inland, and our units stood down.

CALL OUT - 21/02/2026 - 17:19 - Our quads were tasked to assist two people unsure of their way off the beach at Weld Road.

The quads met with the individuals and escorted them off the beach.

Also on scene was HM Coastguard Southport.

13/02/2026

CALL OUT - 10/02/2026 - 16:28 - Our pagers sounded following a request from HM Coastguard to assist an individual in difficulty off Lifeboat Road, Formby.

Our quads left the station and made their way to Formby. While en-route, the police and ambulance had taken the casualty into their care and our units were stood down.

16/01/2026

CALL OUT – 15/01/26 – 15:10 - Southport Quads were paged to assist a person stuck in the mud on Southport Beach.

Our declared mud rescue quad team quickly located the male casualty approximately a quarter of a mile west of the end of Southport Pier.

He was freed from the mud and transported back to safety, where he was assessed by a waiting ambulance crew.

Over the last few days we were tasked to two incidents, but were stood down while en-route.

15/01/2026

Southport Lifeboat volunteer Steve Hayes is currently climbing Aconcagua to raise money for our independent lifeboat service.

Steve has been sending regular updates from the mountain, sharing the reality of the climb and the challenges the team are facing. They’re now just a couple of days away from a possible summit attempt, but severe winds have delayed their move to the final camp. The team remain hopeful and are waiting for a safe weather window.

You can follow Steve’s progress on our website, where you’ll also find details on how to support his fundraising efforts.

We wish Steve and the team the very best as they continue their ascent.

Southport Lifeboat volunteer Steve Hayes is taking on the incredible challenge of climbing Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Americas. Joined by fellow Tri4Life member Liam Hanlon, the pair are undertaking this demanding expedition to raise vital funds for our independent lifeboat service.Stand...

06/01/2026

We are proud to support our volunteer Steve Hayes as he takes on Aconcagua in Argentina with the Tri4Life team, all while raising funds for Southport Lifeboat.

Steve and fellow Tri4Life member Liam Hanlon have already summited Everest and Kilimanjaro. Their next challenge is Aconcagua, the highest peak in the world outside the Himalayas at 6,961 metres, known for its extreme altitude and unforgiving conditions.

This expedition is being undertaken in remembrance, in friendship and in support of causes that matter. We are incredibly grateful that Steve has chosen to dedicate this climb to our independent lifeboat service.

You can follow their journey and support Steve’s fundraising on our website: https://www.southport-lifeboat.org.uk/post/supporting-steve-hayes-as-he-takes-on-aconcagua-with-tri4life

31/12/2025

As 2025 comes to an end, we want to thank you for your continued support during another busy year for Southport Lifeboat.

We remain proud to be entirely volunteer-run, from our Trustee Directors and shop staff to our Search and Rescue team, who stay on call around the clock.

This year we responded to more than 30 incidents, including several major multi agency operations. Every launch is made possible by your generosity.

A standout callout was the rescue of Buddy the runaway reindeer in November. Our quad team ensured his safety, and the story quickly spread across national and international media, showcasing the professionalism and adaptability of our crew.

Our Birkdale charity shop continues to provide vital income for us, we thank all the volunteers who help to keep it running smoothly.

Lifeboat Lotto continues to thrive, with over 1,200 weekly players hoping to win upto £5000.

Hundreds of visitors attended our open days and guided tours, helping raise awareness of our independent service and the equipment your donations fund.

We are also grateful to those who have left legacy gifts, which play an essential role in funding equipment, training and long term resilience.

This year we added a new incident support vehicle to our fleet. Already used in several multi agency operations, it has proved invaluable for transporting our drone team, extra crew and equipment to incidents, as well as an incident commander for multi agency incidents. Our thanks go to all the companies involved in its conversion.

In December we were saddened by the passing of former Trustee Director Derek Hindle, whose early work on the new lifeboat station helped shape the facility we rely on today. We extend our condolences to his family and friends.

This year marked 100 years since the RNLI withdrew from Southport in 1925. For more than six decades, there was no lifeboat stationed along the Sefton Coast until our community came together in response to a series of tragedies. In 1988, the Southport Offshore Rescue Trust was formed, restoring a lifeboat station to our dangerous stretch of coastline. Since then, our service has grown to what it is today.

After 18 years of service, Heather White is nearing the end of her operational life. Following extensive trials, we signed a contract with Habbeke Shipyard in August for a new FRC 903 lifeboat, based on the Niklass class used by KNRM, DLGR and Dutch Caribbean SAR. We look forward to welcoming this next generation vessel to our station in late 2026.

2025 has been a year of progress, resilience and community spirit. None of it would have been possible without our donors, volunteers and supporters. Your generosity keeps our lifesaving service running.

As we look ahead to 2026, we remain committed to strengthening our operations and ensuring Southport continues to have a dedicated, reliable lifeboat service. Thank you for your ongoing support.

09/12/2025

Today marks 139 years since the Mexico Disaster

On the evening of 9 December 1886, tragedy unfolded off the coast near Southport during a violent gale. The barque Mexico ran aground, sparking a sequence of events that became one of the darkest chapters in lifeboat history.

The Southport lifeboat Eliza Fernley launched in response to Mexico’s distress signals. As it neared the stricken vessel in the early hours of the 10th December, it was overwhelmed by heavy seas and capsized.

Of the 16 crew aboard, 14 lost their lives. The only survivors, Henry Robinson and John Jackson, escaped by swimming clear of the upturned lifeboat and clinging to its keel. Exhausted and soaked, they later walked miles to raise the alarm.

At the same time, the St Anne’s lifeboat Laura Janet also answered the call but met an equally devastating fate. All of her crew perished.

In contrast, the Lytham lifeboat succeeded in its mission. Its crew reached the Mexico and rescued all 12 sailors, who had tied themselves to the rigging in a desperate attempt to survive.

By the morning, the full scale of the disaster was clear. A total of 27 lifeboat crew members had been lost, making this the deadliest tragedy in lifeboat service history.

In the aftermath, communities came together to support the bereaved families. A public fund raised £30,000 to help widows and orphans, and memorials were later erected in Southport and St Anne’s to honour the bravery and sacrifice of those who gave their lives in service.

Today, we remember the courage of the lifeboat crews who risked everything to save others, and we reflect on the lasting legacy of their selflessness.

Below is a link to the ‘Warriors of the Sea’ written by Clement Scott and narrated by John Porter.

The poem is set to music produced by Ian Cleverdon and performed by Ian Cleverdon and Mark Hibell. Originally recorded in the late 90s, it was recently remastered. The poem tells the story of the disaster, and the ferocious conditions faced by the crew on that night 139 years ago.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DdLk3xfpy/

03/12/2025

The story of Buddy the Reindeer has captured hearts far beyond Merseyside.

After escaping from Santa's Enchanted Forest onto Formby Beach, local volunteers and emergency services joined forces to ensure his safe return to Santa.

Since then, Buddy’s adventure has been reported across the UK and internationally, with coverage appearing on television, in newspapers, online outlets and broadcast media all over the world.

We are proud that this heartwarming rescue has shone a spotlight on Southport Offshore Rescue Trust.

As an independent lifeboat, we are funded entirely by local donations and community support, dedicated to saving lives and helping in our area.

Every penny raised keeps our lifeboat afloat and ready to respond, whether to a vessel in distress or, as in Buddy’s case, an unexpected call for help.

Learn more and support us here:

At the weekend, our team was called upon to assist in the search for Buddy the Reindeer after he escaped from Santa’s Enchanted Forest and strayed onto Formby Beach.Our volunteers, alongside Police officers, local Coastguard teams, the Fire Brigade, Royal Marines and many others, worked together t...

30/11/2025

CALL OUT - 29/11/25 - 16:43 - Southport Quads were tasked with assisting in the search for an escaped reindeer on Formby Beach, missing for several hours from a local Christmas event in Formby.

As darkness fell, Merseyside Police who had been tracking the animal lost sight of it.

Fearing that it could end up in the River Mersey, our quad team and Coastguard teams from HM Coastguard Southport and HM Coastguard Crosby were called out to help.

Using thermal binoculars, our quad team located the reindeer on the beach.

Although capture proved difficult, the team successfully shepherded the animal into the sand dunes at Altcar Rifle Range, where a police drone maintained watch.

The reindeer eventually settled, allowing a vet, supported by Royal Marines, to safely secure it.

Christmas is saved thanks to some great work from multiple agencies.