Lifeboat volunteers at Fleetwood back in training after lockdown

Armed with appropriate PPE and following the new RNLI Covid-19 procedures,the lifeboat crew have returned to exercise.

The volunteer’s first exercise involved helping station mechanic, Daryl Randles, prepare his Coxswain’s assessment, which was interrupted by the lock-down.

He briefed the volunteer crew on the new procedures, required during the current Covid-19 pandemic, before launching and putting the crew through their paces on navigation and man

overboard exercises.

Saul Mendelssohn, RNLI Area Lifesaving Manager, was present during the training briefing.

He gave permission for Fleetwood RNLI to resume their training, although still in restricted format.

Fleetwood RNLI Coxswain, Tony Cowell, said ‘The RNLI’s lifeboat stations have remained operational during the pandemic and we have seen a high demand for our

service.

"Our lifeboat crew have continued to respond to their pagers and launch to those in peril at sea.

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"Maintaining our world class lifesaving service and saving lives at sea is our main priority and in March we closed lifeboat stations to visitors and all lifeboat exercise at

stations stopped with immediate effect.

"As restrictions imposed under coronavirus have started to ease, the RNLI is now in a position to re-introduce exercises at stations in a careful phased approach.

"Our exercise was done in discussion with our area lifesaving manager an our volunteers and with procedures in place.

"Lifeboat exercises are important for our lifeboat crew so that they can practise a range of skills and ensure they are always prepared for what they face out at sea."