25/05/2026
Rescue Team attend six calls in six hours
This afternoon the team attended six incidents, taking our total for May to 23 - a new record for this month of the year (the previous high of 18 having been achieved in both 2024 & 2025).
The calls included:
- assisting Beach Lifeguards with locating a missing child at Whitley Bay Beach.
- assisting Beach Lifeguards with extricating a 52 year-old who had suffered suspected breaks to both of his ankles.
- assisting the Ambulance Service with three separate incidents involving 15 year-olds who were thought to be heavily intoxicated and becoming unwell.
- carrying out a welfare check on the beach and rocks at the southern end of Tynemouth Longsands.
A big thanks to our colleagues RNLI Lifeguards Tyne & Wear, North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust & Northumbria Police who have all endured extremely busy and challenging conditions when protecting and safeguarding the public throughout the day.
We're aware the scenes we faced were replicated up and down the coastline so a big well done to all the teams involved, and our colleagues coordinating the response, Humber Coastguard.
A final word for our fifteen amazing volunteers who attended at least one of the calls today - conditions were hot and the coastline was extremely busy and, at times, rather intimidating.
Please consider supporting our team with a small donation - link is in the comments
Further details on the incidents are shown below:
051/26 – Monday 25th May 2026 – 14.15h – As the team carried out a coastal patrol, RNLI Beach Lifeguards based at Whitley Bay beach requested assistance. While assisting with two minor first aid requests, the Lifeguards were also searching for a 4 year-old girl who been missing for around 10 minutes. HM Coastguard authorised the Brigade to assist the Lifeguards and team members were on scene for around 10 minutes as the two casualties received treatment for their minor injuries and the missing child was thankfully located safe and well. With those three situations addressed, the Lifeguards resumed patrolling the beach.
Number of Brigade members in attendance: Six
052/26 – Monday 25th May 2026 – 17.05h – A few hours later, RNLI Beach Lifeguards at Tynemouth Longsands contacted HM Coastguard and requested assistance with caring for a 52 year-old man who had suffered breaks to both of his ankles. Team members arrived on scene and provided casualty care alongside a Lifeguard. Once the team had completed incident 53/2026, and with more team members available, a stretcher was then used to carry the man around 400 metres off the beach and to an awaiting car where he was able to make his own way to hospital.
The casualty explained that he had jumped from the old swimming pool onto the beach, a height of around 20 foot, earlier in the day, and had been in some discomfort since. We wish him a speedy and successful recovery from his injuries.
Number of Brigade members in attendance: 13
053/26 – Monday 25th May 2026 – 17.15h – As team members utilised the second rescue vehicle to get to incident 52/2026, they were flagged down by a member of the public near to the former Boardwalk area of Tynemouth Longsands and made aware of a 15 year-old who was thought to be heavily intoxicated. Team members provided initial casualty care and made contact with the casualty’s grandparents who promptly arrived at the scene and then took the teenager home.
Number of Brigade members in attendance: 13
054/26 – Monday 25th May 2026 – 18.00h – Just as team members prepared to leave Tynemouth Longsands after the previous two incidents, an ambulance from the North East Ambulance Service arrived and the crew said they were trying to locate a 15 year-old who was thought to be unconscious and heavily intoxicated. It was quickly established that this was a separate casualty to incident 53/2026 and the team made their way back to the former Boardwalk area where the new casualty was located. After treatment from paramedics, the casualty was walked off the beach and passed into the care of the Ambulance Service.
Number of Brigade members in attendance: 12
055/26 – Monday 25th May 2026 – 18.05h – While supporting the Ambulance Service with treatment for the casualty from incident 54/2026, members were made aware of another 15 year-old who was heavily intoxicated and in need of assistance. Team members cared for the casualty, who was very upset, before arranging for an adult relative to arrive and take the casualty home.
Number of Brigade members in attendance: 12
056/26 – Monday 25th May 2026 – 20.17h – Shortly after returning to their respective homes, Brigade members were tasked back to Tynemouth Longsands. Officers from Northumbria Police and units from the North East Ambulance Service were on scene dealing with multiple incidents and concern had been raised that a group of intoxicated teenagers may have been entering the water. Team members carried out a thorough search of the water line from the middle of the beach round to King Edward’s Bay and found no one in need of assistance. With the other services content that no further assistance was required, HM Coastguard stood the Brigade down at around 20.45h.
Number of Brigade members in attendance: 11
