Sunday afternoon 18 May 2025 RNLI crews from Littlehampton were tasked by HM Coastguard following a Mayday call from a dive boat two miles south of Middleton-on-Sea; the drama that unfolded was filmed by the lifeboat crew and is featured in the BBC’s Saving Lives at Sea Series 11.
During July and August in 2025 the production team for the BBC’s Saving Lives at Sea, Blast Films, spent time with the crew members who were on the shout, interviewing them individually for their thoughts on volunteering with the RNLI and the rescues they have undertaken. The series showcases the courage of RNLI lifesavers throughout the UK and Ireland as they respond to emergencies around the coast.
The film crew also shot scenes with the crews and lifeboats at Littlehampton lifeboat station. The RNLI volunteers were being filmed for Series 11 of BBC2’s Saving Lives at Sea programme demonstrating how they respond to a shout with shore crew, lifeboat crew and Launch Authority each playing their part to ensure a safe and prompt departure of lifeboats when their search and rescue capabilities are required. Drones were also used by the film crew to provide a dramatic high level perspective of a lifeboat launch.
The shout of 18 May 2025 was because a Mayday had been called from a dive vessel which had suffered electrical failure whilst there were four divers in the water. As a consequence of the failure the dive vessel was drifting eastwards on the flooding tide and it was imperative that the divers were able to locate their support craft on surfacing. RNLI volunteer crews from both Littlehampton and Selsey lifeboat stations made fast progress to the scene.
Two divers were recovered to the dive vessel with Selsey RNLI in attendance and two divers were recovered to Littlehampton’s B-Class lifeboat Renee Sherman. All the divers and three dive vessel crew were confirmed to be uninjured and well.
Nick White, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Littlehampton lifeboat station and Launch Authority for this incident, said: ‘When tasked to a Mayday call our shore and lifeboat crews are especially aware of the importance of their roles, particularly in instances where there are known to be persons in the water. Although this is the first time that our lifeboat station and volunteers have appeared on the BBC’s Saving Lives at Sea we have been operating in the modern era as a station since 1967 and we were home to the Blue Peter I lifeboat, funded by the BBC children’s television program. Everything at our lifeboat station happens due to the goodwill and sacrifice of our volunteers and their families who support them in their lifesaving.’
Littlehampton lifeboat station will be appearing in the BBC Saving Lives at Sea programme Series 11 during Episode 5 airing for the first time on Tuesday 15 September at 8pm and will also be available on the BBC iPlayer.
