Lindsey's Lifeboat Adventure Blue Peter Bite

This is Blue Peter, but mini.

Expect epic adventures,

mates, bakes, badges,

pets, presenters, and your post.

We've only got five minutes, so get ready for your Blue Peter adventure.

Since 1824, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution

has saved more than 140,000 lives.

Their volunteers are constantly on standby around the country

to save those in trouble.

I've come to Beaumaris Lifeboat Station in Anglesey,

to learn exactly what it takes to be part of a top life-saving crew.

And you know what, I am so excited for this.

Blue Peter has helped raise money for lifeboats all over the UK,

and one of those was Blue Peter 2, launched here at Beaumaris in 1967.

-Guy, how are you?

-Lindsey, nice to meet you.

Well, it's great to be here, I'm excited.

So, Blue Peter 2, where is the old girl?

Er... 50 years is a long time.

We don't have her any more, unfortunately.

-Oh, right.

-We've got a new one, though!

Blue Peter 2's replacement is a state-of-the-art modern lifeboat

and it's this I'm going to experience.

To celebrate our 50 years, we're going to have a big sea demonstration

for the public, and I want you to come with us.

I'm going to be part of the crew that showcase

what they can do in a demo rescue,

so it probably makes sense for me to learn what happens on a lifeboat call-out.

ALARM WAILS

-Right, the boys are getting on.

-OK.

-So do you want to follow them up?

-OK.

The lifeboat is kept on board a trailer,

so it can be pushed into the water for the quickest possible start.

This is so cool!

Whoo!

Once we're at sea, I'm thrown straight in at the deep end.

So there's going to be a dummy in the water,

-and I want you to navigate me to go and pick him up.

-How?

-So, you've got a GPS here.

-Yeah.

And Colin is going to put the position in,

and I want you to read the bearing and the distance to me.

Let's do this!

Whoo!

Right now, the water is calm and the weather is fine,

but crews like these have to attend emergencies in storms,

often in the pitch-black.

So, communication is vital.

-What's the distance?

-Distance, 0.25 miles.

-OK.

I can see him.

When we reach the dummy, I need to let the helmsman, or driver,

know exactly what I'm doing.

-Come on!

-Argh!

Contact!

We then pull the dummy to safety.

He is so heavy! Urgh...

With things going so well and with calm conditions,

the crew make the offer of a lifetime.

-We're going to head back to station now.

-Uh-huh.

-Before we do, would you like to have a little drive?

-I'd love to!

-Can I?

-Yeah, come and give it a go.

-Do you trust me?

-Yeah!

This is such a privilege,

and is only possible because our crew is so experienced

and because I'm going at a slow speed.

Whoo!

-I loved that! I think I've found my calling.

-Definitely.

I'm going to be a lifeboat driver! That was amazing.

Listen, we've done the training,

I feel like I know what I need to work on, I know what we're doing,

and now tomorrow I've just got to be part of the crew and go for it.

-You ready for tomorrow?

-I am ready. Let's do it!

So, here we are - the morning of Day Two,

and I don't know if you can hear or see, but it is SO windy,

and that does make me a bit nervous

because I want to do Blue Peter proud,

and do it for the badge.

For our demonstration, we're going to head out

and rescue a dummy as quickly as possible.

The crowd have come to see a slick crew in action.

Let's go.

We're out onto the water,

and my first job is to find the location of our casualty.

Beaumaris boathouse, Beaumaris boathouse.

This is Beaumaris lifeboat, Beaumaris lifeboat. Over.

-RADIO:

-Lifeboat, Beaumaris lifeboat.

OK, Lindsey. Can I have another bearing, please?

Bearing, 090.

-Distance, 0.25 miles.

-Roger, I've got a visual.

Even though it's a drill, everyone is taking this practice seriously.

Yeah, contact.

Yesterday's training is really paying off.

I'm so glad I got to practise this.

Did it! But this show isn't over - oh, no.

MUSIC: Ride Of The Valkyries by Richard Wagner

If a casualty needs to get to hospital quickly,

the RNLI sometimes has to call in air support.

The coastguard search and rescue are about to demonstrate

how they would take someone from the water.

Lowering a member of the team down on a winch, they're able to attach

themselves to the person in trouble and lift them straight on board.

It happens in a matter of minutes, and is incredible to witness.

These guys that you see here and the people in that helicopter

are actually unbelievable.

Do you know what, of all my Blue Peter experiences,

I cannot believe how good that was. That was ridiculous!

I'm genuinely buzzing.

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