Lifeboat volunteers save lives after more than 100 'shouts' across Torbay in last year

Volunteer crews at Torbay RNLI launched 113 times and came to the aid of 69 people in 2025, according to new figures.

Data released by the charity shows that the station’s lifeboats launched more than twice a week on average last year, with two lives directly saved as a result of the volunteers' actions.

The figures highlight the demands placed on one of the UK’s busiest holiday destinations. Over a third of the station’s “shouts” occurred during the peak summer months of July and August.

Covering an area that includes 20 beaches, two marinas, and England’s busiest fishing port, the Torbay crews responded to a wide variety of incidents across the bay.

Those assisted by the Inshore and All-Weather lifeboats included:

Kayakers and paddleboarders

Swimmers and coastal walkers

Sailors and vessels further out at sea

In addition to the 113 launches, the crew assembled a further 19 times throughout the year before being stood down shortly before launch.

To maintain 24-hour readiness, the station undertook 122 training exercises in 2025 involving both the sea-going crews and onshore launch authorities.

The busy trend has continued into 2026, with 15 shouts recorded in the first three months of the year. A new intake of volunteers has already completed more than 30 training sessions since January.

A spokesperson for the RNLI noted that the station’s expanded Water Safety team, comprising experienced sailors, swimmers, and kayakers, is currently visiting schools and harbours to share life-saving guidance ahead of the summer.

The release of the annual figures comes as the station prepares for StormFest 160, a day of events marking the 160th anniversary of its founding.

The Torbay Lifeboat Station was established following the Great Storm of 1866.