Photo Credit: Nathan Williams / RNLI
Marking its tenth year broadcasting, Saving Lives at Sea, featuring the lifesaving work of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), is returning to the BBC from Tuesday 18 August at 8pm on BBC Two and iPlayer.
The 10-episode BBC series showcases the courage of RNLI lifesavers around the UK and Ireland as they respond to emergencies around the coast.
The first episode sees rescues from Scarborough, Dungeness, North Berwick and Porthcawl, and episode 4 sees Saving Lives at Sea reach a milestone 100th episode.
Scarborough lifeboat crew comes to the aid of a stricken yacht, whose electronics and engine have failed. Meanwhile, Dungeness lifeboat crew rescue two casualties from the water in the English Channel.
In North Berwick, the crew go to the aid of a capsized kayaker, who was swept offshore by a strong wind, while in Porthcawl, the crew respond to a fisherman who unexpectedly entered the water.
Recalling the rescue, RNLI Porthcawl helm Chris Missen said: ‘It was one of those rescues you never forget and it’s one of the most emotionally challenging rescues the crew and I have done. The casualty had become tangled in fishing gear and had been swept overboard as a result. Luckily, he had a waterproof phone case on him and was able to call for help.
‘It was winter and, by the time we reached him, he had been in the water for nearly an hour. His body temperature was very low. We got him onboard and I am pleased to say he made a full recovery.
‘You always feel the weight of responsibility when you’re the one responsible for bringing a member of your community home. We were so relieved it had a good outcome, and that the story can be shared with Saving Lives at Sea viewers.
‘The series shows how lifeboat crew and lifeguards rescue those in distress at sea, and the lifesaving nature of our work. We are delighted to feature in such a long-running series alongside our fellow lifesavers from across the RNLI.’
More than 30 different RNLI lifeboat stations feature in the series, as well as some of the charity’s beach lifeguards. The programme features real life rescue footage, interviews with the RNLI crews, lifeguards and the people they have rescued, and an insight into the lives of the charity’s lifesavers.
In 2025, RNLI lifeboat crews around the UK and Ireland aided 8,290 people, saving 272 lives, while the charity’s lifeguards helped 36,213 people and saved 117 lives on some of the UK’s busiest beaches.
Watch the first episode at 8pm on Tuesday 18 August to see the rescues in full.
