Hartlepool RNLI crew get life-saving training thanks to charity funding

Chandler Wilson and Colm Simpson travelled to the RNLI College in Dorset, where they completed the charity’s Crew Emergency Procedures course.

The course sees volunteer crew members receiving training across various different subjects including how to deal with fires aboard lifeboats, team survival swimming and how to right a capsized inshore lifeboat to name a few.

Chandler, a student at Hartlepool College of Further Education, joined the town’s RNLI as a volunteer because she “wanted to play her part in saving lives at sea”.

Speaking about the training, she said: “The variety of subjects we covered during the course has definitely boosted my confidence. The training facilities at the college are amazing and the trainers were really good to work with.”

Colm, who works as an IT engineer, is following in the footsteps of his dad Andy, who is already a crew member with the RNLI.

He added: “There were some awesome scenarios during the course which really gave me an insight as to what casualties might face but most importantly I learned a great deal and it really does give you confidence to deal with issues that may occur whilst at sea.”

The training was funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, which has donated over £2.6million to the RNLI since 2008.

Since then, more than 3,000 crew members have taken part in the life-saving training paid for by the global charity.