Dunbar Lifeboat Station reveals increase in callouts

Dunbar Lifeboat Station is issuing its own Mayday call as the number of callouts and people helped by its volunteer crews increase.

Last year, Dunbar’s lifeboats launched 24 times and came to the aid of 17 people – a significant increase on the previous year.

Among the callouts last year, volunteers responded to a family swept out to sea by a powerful rip current and two missing divers, while the lifeboats launched three times in just 10 hours to help people in need.

Ian Wilson, Dunbar RNLI lifeboat operations manager, highlighted the importance of the charity.

He said: “It’s always with mixed feelings when we see the annual stats show an increase in the number of times that we’ve been launched on service.

“On the one hand, nobody wants to see more people getting into trouble and, on the other hand, I’m immensely proud of the crew at Dunbar, who are always ready to drop whatever they’re doing and set out to sea - sometimes in very challenging conditions - to bring people home to their loved ones.

“And knowing that we’ve been there for them when 17 people asked for our help makes the 150 other launches last year for exercises very, very worthwhile - all the many hours training new crew, honing the skills of the more experienced crew and maintaining the boats for instant readiness.”

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 charity’s history.

RNLI data shows the high demand on lifeboat crews across the charity’s 238 lifeboat stations, and so the charity 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 throughout 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.

Dunbar’s lifeboat crew members will be doing their own Mayday Mile – and are calling on members of the community to join them by signing up.

Mr Wilson said: “Every launch represents someone in urgent need - and our volunteers drop everything to help.

“With summer approaching, Mayday is our chance to make sure we have the equipment and training needed for whatever comes next.”

To sign up for the Mayday Mile, or to make a donation in support of the RNLI’s lifesavers, visit RNLI.org/supportMayday