Bridlington lifeboat station wants stories from people rescued

Stories of people who have been rescued will form part of the RNLI's 200th anniversary

A lifeboat station in East Yorkshire wants anyone who has been rescued by RNLI crews to contact them as part of the RNLI's 200th anniversary.

The RNLI nationally will mark its 200th year in 2024 and Bridlington RNLI said it had a number of events planned.

Lynn Shaw, Bridlington RNLI chair said they were keen to speak to people about how they had been affected by a rescue.

The RNLI said since it was founded in 1824, its crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

Ms Shaw said 2024 was going to be a "huge year" for volunteers in Bridlington and the whole organisation.

"Not only do we want to celebrate and tell the story of the past 200 years, as we get ready to celebrate our bicentennial, but we would so much like to be able to speak to anyone out of the organisation who is willing to tell us how a previous rescue has affected them."

She said it did not matter what type of rescue people had experienced.

"We just want you to tell us what that rescue meant to you, your family, did it change your life or inspire you to help others or even volunteer for any organisation?"

The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands and is staffed mostly by volunteers.