Crew's bravery set to be shown on national TV

The dramatic moment members of Blackpool's brave RNLI crew were put at risk will be aired on national television next week.
Alan Gilchrist (L) and Shaun Wright from Blackpool RNLIAlan Gilchrist (L) and Shaun Wright from Blackpool RNLI
Alan Gilchrist (L) and Shaun Wright from Blackpool RNLI

BBC One show Saving Lives at Sea will go behind the scenes of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution to learn more about the ordinary men and women who respond to emergency calls 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, whatever the weather.

At 9pm on Wednesday, millions are expected to tune in to see Blackpool’s crews put at risk during a rescue in gale force seven winds.

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They will see footage from last May’s incident, when both the resort’s lifeboats were called out to help a capsized vessel during stormy weather – only for one of them to capsize as well.

Some of the RNLI volunteers who feature in the new BBC series, Saving Lives at Sea. Credit RNLI/Nigel Millard.Some of the RNLI volunteers who feature in the new BBC series, Saving Lives at Sea. Credit RNLI/Nigel Millard.
Some of the RNLI volunteers who feature in the new BBC series, Saving Lives at Sea. Credit RNLI/Nigel Millard.

Spokeswoman Esther Lowe said: “It was obviously a very dangerous situation for our volunteers, but because of their fantastic training and equipment they came out of it unharmed.”

The crews are expected to gather at the lifeboat station on the Prom to watch the show together, while volunteer helmsman Shaun Wright will appear alongside one of the people he saved on The One Show earlier that day.

He said: “We really hope everyone who tunes in to watch will feel inspired by what they see, and will hopefully learn a bit more about the life-saving work of our charity.”

The show will air for a total of four weeks.

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