RNLI Portishead

26/05/2026

It's hot out there! Please share our lifesaving advice to help us keep people safe 📢

Some areas of the UK are exceeding 30°C today. With many families enjoying the sun this half term, we are asking you to remember one thing if you're by the water:



- Tilt your head back with your ears submerged
- Relax and try to breathe normally
- Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat
- It’s OK if your legs sink, we all float differently
- Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety.

Enjoy and stay safe 🥵

[Visual description: a person is floating in the water in each image. Each image changes slightly and visually demonstrates the Float to Live steps.]

26/05/2026

Today we have lowered our flag in respect of the passing of our wonderful volunteer, Mrs Pauline Weatherburn. Today is Pauline’s funeral...

Pauline has been a part of our lifeboat family for 26 years. Supporting husband Derek with his group visits which they hosted for many years at our lifeboat station, also helping with fundraising and most recently volunteering in our little lifesaving shop.

Pauline was much loved and will be sorely missed by us all 💙

Sending our deepest love and sympathies to Derek, his family and their friends.

For those who wish to come, her funeral is at Canford Crematorium (Bristol) at 1.30pm, this will be followed by a celebration of Pauline's life at the Poacher Inn (Portishead) from 2.30pm 🙏

25/05/2026

📟 CALL OUT - Friday (22nd). Our volunteers launched at 1.21pm to reports of a person with cardiac issues on Sugar Loaf beach, Portishead.
Our crew are trained in casualty care and were asked to assist. On arriving at the scene the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity had already landed on the beach and were supporting the casualty so our crew stood off just incase they were needed.

After a few minutes the Air Ambulance airlifted the casualty to hospital. We wish the person a full and speedy recovery 🙏💙

Thanks to Portishead Coastguard Rescue Team, Avon and Somerset Police and of course the Air Ambulance team who were at the forefront of this rescue 🚁

25/05/2026

Just LOVE our community!! 🙏 🧡

A HUGE thank you to everyone who came along to our little lifesaving shop's table top and cake sale yesterday.....you have helped us raise a MASSIVE £480.60 💙🥳

This will go directly to help YOU when you need us 📟

Thank you Bob Cartwright for the lovely images of our wonderful volunteers 🥰

23/05/2026

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow (Sunday 24th) for our table top and cake sale! 🙏🧁🍰

10.00am - 3.00pm

22/05/2026

📟 CALL OUT - Two launches to the same incident yesterday (21st May). The first launch was 12.35pm. It was believed that a person was in the water near to the Clifton Suspension Bridge. A thorough search was carried out along side Portishead Coastguard Rescue Team, along with their Helicopter crew from St Athan, Avon and Somerset Police, Avon Fire & Rescue Service and the Ambulance Service.

As the search was carried out the Coastguard Helicopter crew from St Athan conducted a low level search demonstrating incredible skill 🚁

Sadly even after re-launching at 8.22pm, to continue the search, nothing was found.

📹 Thank you for Avon Fire & Rescue Service for the video footage! 🙏

20/05/2026

UPDATE LIFEBOAT STATION CLOSED : Sadly due to unforeseen circumstances we are no longer able to open for visits on Saturday and Monday, so sorry 🫤. We are available for operational call outs though so don't worry!

BUT our wonderful Shop Volunteers WILL be having their Cake & Table Top Sale on SUNDAY 🥳- See you then!

👀💙 CAKE & TABLE TOP SALE - 10.00am - 3.00pm
Sunday (24th) - our wonderful shop volunteers will be serving cake outside our little lifesaving shop from 🥮🍰🧁

👀 🛟 CANCELLED - LIFEBOAT STATION VISITS:
Saturday (23rd) & Monday (25th)

See you Sunday - all donations will go towards helping us to 🙏

20/05/2026

- this simple skill could save your life, have a go in a local pool 💙

16/05/2026

📟 We are now back on full service, our launch rig has been modified and ready to go 🥳

If you see someone in trouble either in or on the water, including your beloved four legged friends 🐾, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard 🙏

12/05/2026

With a heavy heart we share the sad news of the passing of our loved volunteer Pauline Weatherburn....💔💙

Our thoughts, love, and deepest sympathies are with Derek, their family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.

Pauline will be greatly missed, fondly remembered, and forever remain part of our lifeboat family....

https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2026/may/12/the-passing-of-rnli-volunteer-pauline-weatherburn

Alongside her husband Derek, Pauline helped welcome countless visitors during the group visits they hosted at the lifeboat station over many years. Together, Pauline and Derek made a wonderful team, dedicating so much of their time to supporting the station, fundraising efforts and helping our commu...