Every day in the seas around the UK and Ireland, an army of unpaid volunteers put their lives on the line to save those of others. This series tells the story of the ordinary men and women of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) who are ready to race to the rescue of those in trouble, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, whatever the weather. Using footage shot on the crews' own cameras, this series takes us into the heart of the action, capturing the unpredictable work of the RNLI in unique detail.\n\nIn Brighton the crew are called out to what they think is just a routine job - towing a yacht that has lost power back to harbour - but a sudden spring squall and mountainous waves leave the crew fighting to save the yacht and themselves from being dashed on the shore. Off the east coast of Ireland, the crew of the small fishing village of Howth respond to an emergency call from a family on a local beach - a teenage girl out on a sailing dinghy has capsized and is now being swept out into the Irish Sea. While on the island of Anglesey, the crew of Moelfre are also heading out to help a family in trouble - two women have swum out to save a friend's young son being blown out to sea on an inflatable, but it quickly becomes the rescuers that need saving themselves.
Source: BBC 2
Series 9: 1. Saving Lives At Sea In World War Ii
In this special episode commemorating the 2024 bicentenary of the RNLI, Dermot O’Leary uncovers the untold story of the institution’s heroic efforts in the Second Wo ...
16-10-2025
BBC 2
Series 10: 10. Midnight Emergency
In Blackpool, it’s just after midnight when the crew receive reports of a man in the water. After finding him unresponsive, it’s vital to get him urgent medical atte ...
08-10-2025
BBC 2
Series 10: 9. Scuba Diver In Danger
In Plymouth, the crew respond to a mayday call - the highest level of emergency at sea - for a scuba diver who has lost consciousness during a 30-metre dive to a shipwreck. When ...
02-10-2025
BBC 2
Series 10: 8. Kayak Mayday
A kayaker has called a mayday after getting into trouble near the Farne Islands; although he is able to communicate his location via his VHF radio, his voice is faltering, and i ...
23-09-2025
BBC 2
Series 10: 7. Teenager Sos
A frantic mother alerts the lifeguards after six teenagers are cut off by the tide in Watergate Bay, north Cornwall. On Scotland’s east coast, the Anstruther crew race to ...
18-09-2025
BBC 2
Series 10: 6. Hunt For Missing Kayakers
In Portaferry, Northern Ireland, the crew face an increasingly urgent search for two kayakers who’ve been blown out to sea in 50mph winds. In Lyme Regis, on the Dorset coa ...
11-09-2025
BBC 2
Series 10: 5. Into The Eye Of The Storm
A 999 call comes in from the son of a windsurfer in trouble; the Mudeford crew battle 80mph winds in an increasingly desperate search. The Hastings crew race to the rescue of a ...
04-09-2025
BBC 2
Series 10: 4. Yacht On The Rocks
The Newhaven crew make a desperate attempt to convince a solo yachtsman that he needs rescuing; when his anchor line snaps, he is at the mercy of the rolling swells and the stor ...
28-08-2025
BBC 2
Series 10: 3. Windsurfer Caught In The Storm
With Storm Eunice - and its 100 mph winds - battering the south coast, the Portsmouth crew have to decide whether they can even launch to a windsurfer in trouble. Once they&rsqu ...
21-08-2025
BBC 2
Series 10: 2. Race To Rescue A Family
A ten-year-old boy is swept out to sea on a paddleboard in North Berwick. His parents have rushed out to try and save him, but all three of them are now struggling in the water. ...
14-08-2025
BBC 2
Series 9: 1. Saving Lives At Sea In World War Ii
In this special episode commemorating the 2024 bicentenary of the RNLI, Dermot O’Leary uncovers the untold story of the institution’s heroic efforts in the Second Wo ...
16-10-2025
BBC 2
Series 4: Episode 1
Every day in the seas around the UK and Ireland, an army of unpaid volunteers put their lives on the line to save those of others. Saving Lives At Sea tells the story of the ord ...
05-04-2022
BBC 2
Series 10: 6. Hunt For Missing Kayakers
In Portaferry, Northern Ireland, the crew face an increasingly urgent search for two kayakers who’ve been blown out to sea in 50mph winds. In Lyme Regis, on the Dorset coa ...
11-09-2025
BBC 2
Series 6 (shortened Versions): Episode 9
We rely on our lifeboat crews 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year - they risk their lives saving ours, even in the most challenging conditions.\n\nIn St Davids, on the Pembroke ...
22-11-2023
BBC 2
Series 6: Episode 10
Last year, the lifeboats around the UK and Ireland came to the aid of over 8,300 people. But no matter what they face when they head out on a shout, all crew members are instill ...
18-03-2023
BBC 2
Series 10: 8. Kayak Mayday
A kayaker has called a mayday after getting into trouble near the Farne Islands; although he is able to communicate his location via his VHF radio, his voice is faltering, and i ...
23-09-2025
BBC 2
Series 10: 7. Teenager Sos
A frantic mother alerts the lifeguards after six teenagers are cut off by the tide in Watergate Bay, north Cornwall. On Scotland’s east coast, the Anstruther crew race to ...
18-09-2025
BBC 2
Series 10: 9. Scuba Diver In Danger
In Plymouth, the crew respond to a mayday call - the highest level of emergency at sea - for a scuba diver who has lost consciousness during a 30-metre dive to a shipwreck. When ...
02-10-2025
BBC 2
Series 9: 6. Trust
Every one of the RNLI’s crew members brings their own unique skills to the station at which they volunteer. But they’re all united by one key element: trust.\n\nIn H ...
09-05-2024
BBC 2
Series 5: Episode 10
When the pagers sound, sending lifeboats into the waters of the UK and Ireland, the crews on board rely on both their training and experience to bring casualties home safely to ...
15-08-2024
BBC 2