Flint RNLI lifesavers in spotlight on BBC ‘Saving Lives at Sea’ tonight as they help yacht stock under Hawarden Bridge

Flint’s Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) crew will be featured on national television tonight, Thursday, October 19.

BBC Two’s much-loved documentary series, ‘Saving Lives at Sea’, will spotlight Flint RNLI’s volunteers.

They provided assistance to a yacht that had lost its moorings. The yacht ended up trapped under the Hawarden railway bridge with its owner still aboard.

The RNLI Flint inshore lifeboat and Coastguard teams from Flint and Wirral responded just after 2am on the morning of November 10, 2021.

They received reports that a 20ft yacht had collided with the railway bridge spanning the River Dee at Shotton.

Upon reaching the site, they discovered the yacht – with one individual on board – wedged against the rail bridge. The tide was causing the boat to tilt.

‘Saving Lives at Sea’ features rescue operations vividly captured through helmet and boat cameras.

This approach offers viewers an intimate look into the events as they unfold.

Such compelling footage allows viewers to immerse themselves in the drama, witnessing it through the perspective of the brave RNLI lifesavers.

On the RNLI Flint Facebook page, a spokesperson shared, “In this episode, our committed volunteers intervene to help a yacht owner in a challenging predicament – his yacht had detached from its moorings and ended up stuck under a railway bridge.

“The complete rescue is documented via helmet cameras used by our team, giving you an unparalleled insight into the rescue from the volunteers’ viewpoint.”

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