St Ives RNLI has recorded its busiest year ever, with more than 85 service launches already in 2025. That’s more than double the 34 launches in 2024.
St Ives RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat, Nora Stachura, and inshore lifeboat, Donald Dean, on the water. Photograph Russell Bush/RNLI
The rise reflects wider RNLI trends across the UK and Ireland, with crews responding to more incidents involving swimmers, paddleboarders, kayakers, and, sadly, people facing mental health crises.
Despite the rising demand, the volunteer lifeboat crew at St Ives have continued to show extraordinary commitment, not only in launching and recovering the lifeboats, but also in the unseen hours of training, fundraising, and raising awareness of water safety in the community.
“We experienced a very busy summer around our coast with warm, settled weather providing the opportunity to enjoy the beaches and waters around St Ives,” said Dickon Berriman, area operations manager for the RNLI. “Inevitably, this led to an increase in incidents.
“The St Ives Lifeboat team have risen to the challenge with courage and commitment. There is a lot to maintaining this service which goes unseen — hours of training, restrictions of living on a pager, and disruption to family life. Our volunteers are incredible as are their families who support what they do.”
The RNLI is reminding everyone to take extra care when enjoying the water, to always respect the sea, and to familiarise themselves with safety advice before heading out. In case of an emergency, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.
Joel Ninnes, volunteer crew member and water safety delivery support for the RNLI, said: “If you’re planning on enjoying a sea swim or cold-water dip over the festive period, you should always carry a means of calling for help. This could be a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch.
“Remember, if you don’t have any mobile phone signal, don’t panic. You can still try calling 999 or 112, even if your own mobile phone network has no coverage. Your phone will try to connect to any other network available.”
The dedication of the St Ives crew ensures that the lifeboat service continues to save lives at sea, but this vital work relies on the generosity of supporters and the resilience of volunteers.
Building on this spirit, St Ives Lifeboat Station is recruiting for both boat and shore crew roles. To find out more, visit RNLI.org/RecruitingNow
