RNLI North Berwick Lifeboat

30/08/2026

LIFEBOAT LAUNCHED twice yesterday (29 August):
🎣 1.02pm: Two adults angling from rocks, cut off by the tide on Leckenbane, Milsey Bay.

🚸 5.30pm: Two children cut off by the tide on the Leithies.

If you're heading out on the coast, always check the local tide times.

If you're on rocks with seaweed and barnacles, these will get covered when the tide comes in, keep an eye on your escape route.

If you're cut off by the tide, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard and await rescue.

Do not enter the water to swim or wade to safety; water depths can vary and tidal currents can be surprisingly strong.

If you're angling from rocks consider wearing a lifejacket.

North Berwick Coastguard Rescue Team also in attendance.

📷: A A View From My Camera/Richard Ellis

19/08/2026

Did you catch us on Saving Lives At Sea last night? Don't worry if you didn't, it's available in BBC iPlayer for 'over a year'! Link in the comments 👇

In the first episode of the 11th series of the programme our volunteers, Matt and Tom, took viewers through the rescue of a capsized kayaker at the end of the episode which also featured dramatic rescues from Porthcawl RNLI Lifeboat, RNLI Dungeness Lifeboat Station and Scarborough Lifeboat Station.

And if you were watching carefully you may have also spotted crew member Vikki popping up in the opening credits!

We're looking forward to the rest of the series, on BBC Two Tuesdays at 8pm.

18/08/2026

Under an hour until Saving Lives At Sea is on BBC Two tonight!

Keep your eyes peeled for our volunteers!

🚨 Saving Lives at Sea is BACK tonight! 🚨

Series 11 starts tonight at 8pm on BBC Two – and we’re back with a bang!

Catch the below stations in action;
Porthcawl RNLI Lifeboat
RNLI Dungeness Lifeboat Station
RNLI North Berwick Lifeboat
Scarborough Lifeboat Station

Four rescues. One unforgettable night.

📺 Tonight | 8pm | BBC Two
▶️ Catch up on BBC iPlayer

16/08/2026

📺 Reminder that we're on BBC Two's Saving Lives At Sea on Tuesday (18 August) evening at 8pm along with volunteers from Porthcawl RNLI Lifeboat, RNLI Dungeness Lifeboat Station and Scarborough Lifeboat Station.

Here's a sneak peak behind the scenes from when the team came to film at the station. Read more via the link in the comments 👇🏽

11/08/2026

North Berwick SLSC are running SwimSafe next Saturday. Full details on their post.

🏊FREE🛟practical water safety sessions for children aged 7-14.
📆Saturday 22 August: 10am, 11am, 1pm and 2pm (45 minute sessions)

We are running our first SwimSafe sessions, delivering free outdoor swimming sessions for children.

Participants will enjoy a fun, structured swimming session in the sea here in North Berwick and learn all about how to stay safe.

The 45-minute session is run by qualified lifeguards and instructors, and includes:
-Water safety advice provided by qualified lifeguards on land.
-Up to 20 minutes in-water tuition with qualified instructors.
-All the right kit for swimming outdoors (including swimming hats, wetsuits, and swimming aids).

The practical sessions are designed to help young people who can already swim 25m unaided to improve their swimming ability and feel more confident in the water.

For further information and booking, visit the link in the comments 👇

10/08/2026

📺TV appearance alert ‼ BBC Two's Saving Lives At Sea returns on Tuesday 18 August, 8pm, and our volunteers Tom and Matt feature in the first episode!

Viewers will get a crew's eye view of the rescue of a capsized kayaker last July, along with rescues from Porthcawl RNLI Lifeboat, RNLI Dungeness Lifeboat Station and Scarborough Lifeboat Station.

A strange quirk in BBC Two's Scottish programming means that you may not be able to watch us live on TV, but you can via BBC iPlayer, live or on demand.

Series 11 of the fantastically popular documentary series has 10 action packed episodes following our lifesaving volunteers as they tackle challenging rescue missions around the UK and Ireland.

Through onboard footage, interviews with crew members and those they’ve rescued, and narration from Steven Mackintosh, the show highlights the dangers posed by the sea and the incredible bravery of RNLI volunteers.

📷: Phil Broadhurst/Blast Films

Will you tune in?

09/08/2026

A big thank you to Fringe by the Sea who allowed our water safety team to deliver key water safety messaging during the last day of the festival.

The team were asking the public to find their float and it was encouraging to see so many young people who knew how to float already.

They were also reminding people to dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard during any coastal emergency to ensure the correct help gets to the casualty fast.

Stormy Stan came along to help but kept getting distracted by the music. He even tried to crash the stage of Massaoke during Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On'!

26/07/2026

Multi-agency teamwork spreads water safety messaging for World Drowning Prevention Day (25 July).

Our volunteer RNLI water safety team joined members of Police Scotland East Lothian along with their Police Scotland Youth Volunteers, North Berwick Coastguard Rescue Team, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and North Berwick SLSC to deliver two key messages.

1. In any coastal emergency, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard. Inland water is generally covered by the Police.

2. Float to Live.
If you find yourself unexpectedly in the water; float on your back, with your ears submerged making small movements with your arms and legs

Scotland has the highest accidental water-related fatality rate of all the nations in the UK.

73% of the accidental fatalities occurred during recreational activities.

Simply knowing who to call and how to float really could help save a life.

Since 2017, over 50 people told the RNLI that floating helped save their life after hearing or seeing the Float to Live campaign.

👇Read the full story via the link in the comments

25/07/2026

A historic collection box has been restored to its former glory by the Bass Rock Community Group.

It's thought that around 150 of these were made between the 1860s and 1930s. Around 30 of them are known to survive, but more are being found as we uncover these silent sentinels unnoticed on our streets.

Donations power the RNLI's lifesaving work now, as they did in 1824 when the RNLI was founded.

Thanks to the volunteer's at Bass Rock Community Group you can now donate as the Victorian/Edwardian's did (we're not 100% sure how old the collection box is).

23/07/2026

Crew member, Stefan, saves 3 from a rip current whilst surfing.

On Monday (20 July) Stefan, who has been a volunteer here in North Berwick for the last 15 years, spotted two children caught in a rip current at Seacliff. The Dad entered the water to help but was soon struggling too.

Luckily, calling on his experience with the RNLI and skills learned with North Berwick SLSC, Stefan was able to swim the trio away from the rocks and along with another surfer brought them to safety through the breaking waves.

📑Read the full story via the link in the comments 👇

⚠️ Rip current safety advice ⚠️
Rip currents will always be present if there are breaking waves, though the beach profile, state of the tide along with the size and power of the waves will affect their severity. They're difficult to spot, and can form suddenly.

If you find yourself caught in a rip:
❌Don’t try to swim against it or you’ll get exhausted.

⭐Stay with your board if you have one or ‘Float To Live’ if you don’t. Lie on your back, submerge your ears and calm your breathing, notice which way the current is flowing.

🙋‍♀️Raise your hand and shout for help.

👣If you can stand, wade; don’t swim.

↔ If you can, wade or swim sideways to the direction you are moving, often parallel to the shore, until free of the rip and then head for shore.

🆘In any coastal emergency, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.