On his first official outing as Shipping Minister John Hayes visited Sutton Bridge Coastguard Centre to see the Rescue Team in action.

He saw the rescue officers put their skills to test, demonstrating how they would rescue someone from the water and take care of them following the rescue.

Shipping Minister John Hayes MP said:

Coastguards work around the clock to keep people safe in the water. They are volunteers and the lynchpin of their local communities.

I am privileged to have seen first-hand their skillful, courageous work and would like to pay tribute to all those who dedicate their time and expertise to providing this critical service.

The short video shows the volunteers in action.

Coastguard video

Her Majesty’s Coastguard is the emergency service responsible for coordinating maritime search and rescue in the UK. One rescue resource often called into action is the Coastguard Rescue Team. There are currently 347 teams around the UK, made up of more than 3,200 volunteers.