RNLI Skegness

17/05/2026

Earlier this week, volunteers from Skegness RNLI attended the East Riding of Yorkshire Council Chairman’s Awards, where a number of emergency service personnel, organisations and members of the public were recognised for their actions following tragic events in Withernsea on 2 January this year.

Our crew were honoured to receive a Chairman’s Commendation in recognition of the part played during the search operation carried out in extremely challenging weather and sea conditions.

Although recognition was never the reason our volunteers respond to the pager, it is appreciated as an acknowledgement of the dedication, resilience and cooperation shown by everyone involved. The incident demonstrated the strength of the emergency service community, with crews and responders from across multiple agencies working side by side in support of one another and the local community during a deeply difficult time.

Most importantly, our thoughts continue to remain with the family, friends and all those affected by the tragedy.

We would particularly like to acknowledge our colleagues at RNLI Withernsea for the professionalism, dedication and courage demonstrated in January and acknowledge their worthy receipt of this award.

Skegness RNLI would also like to thank East Riding of Yorkshire Council for the recognition, and extend our respect to every organisation, volunteer and member of the public involved in the response.

14/05/2026

Our great friends over at RNLI Lifeguards Lincolnshire are raising to the challenge for and need your support. If you can spare a few pennies pop and long and give what you can. We’d all be very grateful.

21/04/2026

Interested in volunteering for your local RNLI lifeboats station? We’re looking for someone to join our team or station volunteer terra to head up the operational side of the towns lifeboat station. If you’re interested please have a read and get in touch.

Volunteer Role

05/02/2026

Recently we had the pleasure of Andy Epton launching our stations Shannon class lifeboat on exercise for his very last time. He's hung up his helmet after decades of dedicated service through his efforts with the Charity's life saving work here in Skegness.

We're incredibly proud of him, and we hope he enjoys all those happy restful nights, uninterrupted by the sound of the Pager, you've earned it.

read more about Andy's time volunteering with the RNLI at Skegness here:

https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2026/january/25/longserving-skegness-rnli-volunteer-bids-farewell-after-decades-of-lifesaving

31/01/2026

We’re looking for people to join our team of volunteers who launch our lifeboats. This shore based role is great for anyone who wants to volunteer but doesn’t fancy going to sea.

Alternatively you can progress to boat crew if this is something than interests you so long and as you meet the requirements for those roles.

Interested? Follow the link to apply or message us to find out more.

Join our team

23/01/2026

This weekend sees large seas forecast in many areas. Take care whenever you’re near the coast. Please read the RNLI’ s advice below:

The RNLI advises that you stay a safe distance from the water as conditions could knock you off your feet or wash you into the sea or water.

If you find yourself in trouble in the water, remember to Float to Live: lie back in the water with your head so far back that your ears are wet, extend your arms and legs and try to relax as best as you can until you get control of your breathing. If you see someone else in danger in the water, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard. If you have something that floats that they can hold on to, throw it to them. Don’t go in the water yourself – you could end up in difficulty too.

The RNLI's safety advice is:
•Stay well back from stormy, rough seas, cliff edges and any exposed waterside location.
•Check the weather forecast and tide times before you go.
•Take a fully charged phone with you and let someone know where you are going and when you are due back.
•In an emergency, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.

21/01/2026

Not everything we do takes place on water. Our volunteers put hours in to shore based (dry) training. Delivered by other volunteer crew members this training is vital for our people to learn, practice and brush up on skills such as Navigation, rope handling and casualty care.

Recently one of our volunteer coxswains - Lee - put the team through a Navigation session in the warmth of the Boathouse.

If you’re interested to see what we do and join our crew then please feel free to get in touch.

19/01/2026

On Sunday morning some of our volunteer crew members took the inshore lifeboat out on an exercise to familiarise our 5 newest crew members with the boat and get them out to sea for the first time.

Great team effort and a big congratulations to all the new crew who all worked really hard and took it in their stride.

Our next exercise is on the 25th January at 8:30am if you want to come down and take a look at us launching both of our lifeboats, we’d love to see you.

14/01/2026

Join our team

04/01/2026

RNLI volunteers from Withernsea, Bridlington and Skegness lifeboat stations responded to the tasking by HM Coastguard at around 3.30pm on Friday 2 January, to assist in a multi-agency incident involving people in difficulty in the water off Withernsea.

RNLI crews were involved in the recovery of two casualties, and Withernsea, Bridlington and Skegness lifeboats continued to search the water for one remaining missing person. Conditions at sea were extremely difficult with three metre waves, strong winds and very cold air temperatures. After extensive shoreline and offshore searches, the search was stood down at around 12.30am.

Search efforts resumed at first light on Saturday 3 January, with RNLI volunteers from Withernsea searching the shoreline on foot alongside partner agencies in challenging snow conditions. HM Coastguard stood down the search at 4pm.

Agencies involved in the response included HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, Coastguard Rescue Teams from Withernsea, Hornsea and Hull, Hornsea Inshore Rescue, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Humberside Police and Humberside Fire and Rescue.

We would like to thank members of the public who assisted and supported the emergency services, and recognise the professionalism, coordination and commitment shown by all agencies during a prolonged and demanding response. We’d also like to acknowledge the dedication of our volunteers, who spent many hours at sea in challenging conditions, and all those who supported back at the stations.

This is a very tragic incident and our thoughts are with the families, friends and all those impacted.