Data reveals demand for rescue service as RNLI launches ‘Mayday Mile’ appeal
Bridlington RNLI Lifeboat Station(Image: RNLI/Mike Milner)
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution – RNLI – has released new data from 2025, which shows lifeboats in Bridlington launched over 26 times last year. During 2025, the charity’s volunteers in the seaside resort came to the aid of 30 persons and saved one life at sea.
Across the UK, Ireland and the Channel Islands, RNLI lifeboat crews helped 8,290 people and saved 272 lives as the charity’s lifeboats launched more than 9,000 times in 2025, making it the sixth-busiest year in the RNLI’s history. Data shows the high demand on lifeboat crews across the charity’s 238 lifeboat stations, and so it is putting out its own “Mayday” call, urging the public to get involved with its biggest national fundraising event, the Mayday Mile, to help fund its vital lifesaving service.
Participants are challenged to cover a mile a day for the month of May, with every penny raised helping to make sure that the charity’s lifesavers have everything they need to keep people safe this summer and beyond. Bob Taylor, Bridlington RNLI volunteer water safety officer, said: “Each year we see how quickly things can change on the water.
“Our crews are always ready to respond, but we can only do what we do thanks to the public’s generosity. This May, we’re asking people to step up and support us through the Mayday Mile so we can keep saving lives when it matters most.
“The new figures show just how demanding last year was. Every launch represents someone in urgent need — and our volunteers drop everything to help.
READ MORE: Bridlington RNLI’s ‘eventful and multi-tasked 90 minutes’
“With summer approaching, Mayday is our chance to make sure we have the equipment and training needed for whatever comes next.” Whether you choose to walk, jog, hop or skip, a mile every day in May will help raise vital funds for RNLI lifesavers, so that they can continue to keep people safe at sea.
Kate Eardley, head of international global drowning prevention at the RNLI, said: “These latest statistics make it clear that our lifesaving service remains as vital as ever. Whether it’s paddleboarders caught by offshore winds, walkers stranded by the tide or boaters in difficulty, our crews are answering calls every day of the year.
“Taking part in the Mayday Mile is a simple way for people to support our volunteers. Every pound raised helps ensure our crews can launch at a moment’s notice — and be there for families when they need us most.”
To sign up for the Mayday Mile, or to make a donation in support of the RNLI’s lifesavers, visit RNLI.org/supportMayday
Bridlington lifeboat station has been operating since 1805. You can find out more about it at rnli.org
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