RNLI Lifeboat Crews Save 272 Lives in Record Year of Callouts
By Charities Correspondent
The RNLI has today released its rescue figures for 2025, revealing its lifeboat crews saved a total of 272 lives last year.
Lifeboat crews across the UK and Ireland were launched more than 9,000 times last year, as new figures reveal one of the busiest periods on record for the charity.
The latest data from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) shows crews were called out around 25 times every day, highlighting the constant demand on volunteers around the coast.
The charity operates from 238 lifeboat stations across the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands, responding to a wide range of emergencies at sea and along the coastline.
Last year’s launches included 713 callouts to sailing vessels, 951 to motorboats, 946 to people in the water, and 319 incidents involving walkers and runners caught out by tides or coastal conditions.
Crews were also called out 179 times to assist animals, up from 163 the year before.
The RNLI says these rescues are often carried out to prevent owners putting themselves in danger while trying to reach pets or livestock.
Most of the animals rescued were dogs, but crews also helped sheep, a horse and even a whale during the year.
Among those saved was mother-of-four Mandy Galloway, who was rescued off the coast of Kingsbarns in Scotland after being swept more than a mile out to sea while paddleboarding.
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She described feeling extreme cold and fear as offshore winds carried her away from shore, before RNLI volunteers reached her and brought her safely back to land. She later made a full recovery after hospital treatment for hypothermia and exhaustion.
Another rescue involved Chris Haffenden, who was cut off by the tide at Birling Gap near Newhaven. He said he felt panic as the sea rose quickly, but relief when lifeboat crews arrived.
He praised RNLI volunteers, noting that many give up their own time to respond to emergencies.
A spokesperson for the RNLI said the figures show how quickly conditions around the coast can change, and why safety awareness and volunteer crews remain essential.
They also highlighted fundraising campaigns such as the Mayday Mile, which encourages people to walk, jog or run a mile a day in May to support lifesaving work.
The charity says public donations help ensure crews can continue responding to emergencies whenever they are needed.
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