Southend lifeboat station named busiest in country in 2012

5:00pm Friday 25th January 2013 in News

SOUTHEND’S lifeboat station was the busiest coastal centre in the UK last year, new figures show.


The RNLI’s team of volunteers in Southend launched lifeboats 137 times, racking up more than 400 hours at sea.


The station, which is entirely made up of 40 volunteers, saved 132 people last year, more than a quarter of the total helped at all six Essex rescue centres.


 

When a member of the crew is on duty they are given a pager, and if there is an emergency, they will have to drop whatever they are doing and rush out.


Den Freeman, spokesman from Southend RNLI, said: “Our volunteers have got to have sympathetic employeers and family members, as being part of the RNLI usually means taking away their free time.


“Some of them even have to make up the work after-hours, but they provide such a good service for people in Southend.


“The reason we’re so busy is because we cover from West Canvey to East Beach in Shoebury and although we didn’t have a great summer a lot of our rescues were leisure related, like wind surfers and fisherman.”
 

This station was thid only to two inland stations on the Thames in central London, Tower and Chiswick for callouts in the UK.

Both of them do not rely entirely on volunteer crew.
 

Comments (9)

5:07pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Letmetryagain says...

I was under the impression that it had always been the busiest RNLI station ?
I was under the impression that it had always been the busiest RNLI station ? Letmetryagain

5:10pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Cosmo Spring says...

This station was thid only

thid?
This station was thid only thid? Cosmo Spring

5:43pm Fri 25 Jan 13

abd123 says...

Chiswick doesn't spring to mind when thinking of lifeboat stations let alone being one of the busiest.
Chiswick doesn't spring to mind when thinking of lifeboat stations let alone being one of the busiest. abd123

6:14pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Max Impact says...

abd123 wrote:
Chiswick doesn't spring to mind when thinking of lifeboat stations let alone being one of the busiest.
When you think how big the Thames is and the number of boating people up that way including the rowers, pleasure craft etc:

Southend has always been near the top of the coastal stations, the London boats get a lot of calls to people jumping or threatning to jump in to the water, which increases the number of call outs.
[quote][p][bold]abd123[/bold] wrote: Chiswick doesn't spring to mind when thinking of lifeboat stations let alone being one of the busiest.[/p][/quote]When you think how big the Thames is and the number of boating people up that way including the rowers, pleasure craft etc: Southend has always been near the top of the coastal stations, the London boats get a lot of calls to people jumping or threatning to jump in to the water, which increases the number of call outs. Max Impact

10:26pm Fri 25 Jan 13

psorias says...

I'd like to thank the volunteers who work for the RNLI I do not know any of you, and thankfully, I or anyone I know have needed your services. But I have brought up four children and have a grandson and we have had many seaside holidays. I know you are there and that is reassuring. 132 people saved from the sea equals thousands saved from grieving. Well done to our Southend RNLI and to all volunteers who risk their lives to help others.

www.rnlishop.org.uk/
Gifts is a good place to buy gifts if you also appreciate the RNLI worth a look I think.
I'd like to thank the volunteers who work for the RNLI I do not know any of you, and thankfully, I or anyone I know have needed your services. But I have brought up four children and have a grandson and we have had many seaside holidays. I know you are there and that is reassuring. 132 people saved from the sea equals thousands saved from grieving. Well done to our Southend RNLI and to all volunteers who risk their lives to help others. www.rnlishop.org.uk/ Gifts is a good place to buy gifts if you also appreciate the RNLI worth a look I think. psorias

11:03pm Fri 25 Jan 13

Max Impact says...

psorias wrote:
I'd like to thank the volunteers who work for the RNLI I do not know any of you, and thankfully, I or anyone I know have needed your services. But I have brought up four children and have a grandson and we have had many seaside holidays. I know you are there and that is reassuring. 132 people saved from the sea equals thousands saved from grieving. Well done to our Southend RNLI and to all volunteers who risk their lives to help others.

www.rnlishop.org.uk/

Gifts is a good place to buy gifts if you also appreciate the RNLI worth a look I think.
Better still go to the end of the pier and make use of the local RNLI shop, drop your change in the collection pot to keep the boys and girls at sea protecting and saving lives.
[quote][p][bold]psorias[/bold] wrote: I'd like to thank the volunteers who work for the RNLI I do not know any of you, and thankfully, I or anyone I know have needed your services. But I have brought up four children and have a grandson and we have had many seaside holidays. I know you are there and that is reassuring. 132 people saved from the sea equals thousands saved from grieving. Well done to our Southend RNLI and to all volunteers who risk their lives to help others. www.rnlishop.org.uk/ Gifts is a good place to buy gifts if you also appreciate the RNLI worth a look I think.[/p][/quote]Better still go to the end of the pier and make use of the local RNLI shop, drop your change in the collection pot to keep the boys and girls at sea protecting and saving lives. Max Impact

3:29am Sat 26 Jan 13

ShrimperSS0 says...

Think those of us who visited this site during last year, we would not be shocked to learn that our local lifeboat station was the busiest coastal when you think that barely a day went by without a lifeboat callout story. I'd like to add my own thanks to those who give their time to work on the lifeboats.
Think those of us who visited this site during last year, we would not be shocked to learn that our local lifeboat station was the busiest coastal when you think that barely a day went by without a lifeboat callout story. I'd like to add my own thanks to those who give their time to work on the lifeboats. ShrimperSS0

2:15pm Sat 26 Jan 13

Carnabackable says...

Hopefully with the winter closure, of Southend pier, the work load of these heroes will drop off
Hopefully with the winter closure, of Southend pier, the work load of these heroes will drop off Carnabackable

8:13pm Sat 26 Jan 13

Max Impact says...

Carnabackable wrote:
Hopefully with the winter closure, of Southend pier, the work load of these heroes will drop off
How when the vast vast majority involve rescues away from the pier.
[quote][p][bold]Carnabackable[/bold] wrote: Hopefully with the winter closure, of Southend pier, the work load of these heroes will drop off[/p][/quote]How when the vast vast majority involve rescues away from the pier. Max Impact

Comments are closed on this article.

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree