Lifeboat Crews are Amazing

It's thirty years ago next week since two memorable rescues in hurricane conditions by RNLI crews. One, by the St Peter Port lifeboat, resulted in 29 people being rescued from the cargo vessel Bonita. The other, sadly, resulted in the loss of crew of both the Penlee lifeboat and the Union Star, the ship it had set out to help.

I won't recount the whole story of the Bonita rescue here, as the RNLI have a long press release out¹ but what struck me is that it's such a typical story of RNLI crews just Doing The Right Thing in extraordinary circumstances while the loss of the Penlee crew is a reminder of the risks they're taking.

But when you look at the St Peter Port crew they just look like ordinary guys you'd meet down the pub (you can click on the photo for a bigger image).

Anyway enough already. I'm sure I don't need to tell you this but the RNLI is a charity and the crews are (with a few exceptions) volunteers. While the crews risk their lives you can help with a bit of your dosh.

Go on, you know you want to.

1. Since I wrote first wrote this article they've issued a second press release featuring 17 minute documentary about the rescue which includes interviews with the RNLI crew and also with the chief engineer of the Bonita.