The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) volunteer crew from Porthcawl RNLI will feature in the brand new series of popular BBC Two programme Saving Lives at Sea this week.

Featuring footage captured on helmet cameras, the primetime documentary series lets viewers witness rescues through the eyes of the RNLI lifesavers while meeting the people behind the pagers.

The popular 10-part documentary is now in its seventh series and includes the lifesaving work of RNLI lifeguards and volunteer lifeboat crews from around the UK and Ireland.

The series is broadcast at 8pm on BBC Two and will also be available on BBC iPlayer following broadcast.

Including interviews with lifeboat crews and lifeguards, the series will also hear from the rescuees and their families who are here to tell the tale, thanks to the RNLI.

The forthcoming episode, on Thursday 22 September, includes Porthcawl RNLI’s rescue of Ollie the springer spaniel, alongside rescue stories from other RNLI stations and beaches around our coasts.

Porthcawl RNLI volunteer, Etienne Cronje who will feature in the upcoming episode, says:

‘Our lifesaving work would not be possible without donations from the public and we are delighted to be able to share a frontline view of the rescues they support with their kind generosity.

‘In the forthcoming episode our volunteer crew rescue a dog which was lost after entering the water at Newton Beach and was eventually found around 3 miles away near Southerndown.’

In 2021, RNLI lifeboat crews around the UK and Ireland aided 12,903 people, saving 296 lives, while the charity’s lifeguards aided 18,180 people and saved 112 lives on some of the UK’s busiest beaches.

Notes to Editors

  • The series is made for the BBC by Blast! Films.

Media contacts

For more information please contact Chris Page chris_page@rnli.org.uk. Alternatively, call the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 or email pressoffice@rnli.org.uk.