06/10/2026
TVLB respond to six calls across the first six days of October
It’s been a really busy start to the month for our volunteers with six calls in six days, after a relatively low number of incidents in the 2nd half of September.
Since 1st October we’ve attended:
- One call for a person in difficulty in the sea
- Three false alarms with good intent
- One request to secure a Helicopter Landing Site
- One First Aid incident
The calls have involved multi-agency working with a range of different coastal resources including colleagues in Blyth & South Shields, and teams based at three different RNLI bases.
Saturday morning's call, coming in at 4.57am, also meant that the team have now had at least one call in every hour of the day in 2026. This is only the 3rd time across the past 10 years that we’ve achieved this stat – and it helps highlight the level of incidents we’ve had in 2026, and the varying different times they occur.
A big thanks to our volunteers, and the teams we’ve worked alongside, across what has been an intense start to the month.
Further details on the recent incidents are shown below:
133/26 – Thursday 1st October 2026 – 15.33h – HM Coastguard tasked the Brigade, South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade (SSVLB), Blyth Coastguard Rescue Team & Cullercoats RNLI after receiving a report of a person in difficulty in the water at King Edward’s Bay. One casualty was recovered by the lifeboat and passed into the care of the North East Ambulance Service.
Number of Brigade members in attendance: Five
134/26 – Saturday 3rd October 2026 – 04.57h – HM Coastguard tasked the Brigade to prepare the Helicopter Landing Site in Newcastle for the arrival of the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter based at Humberside Airport which was inbound with a casualty following an incident on the River Wear. Team members assisted with transferring the casualty from the Helicopter to an ambulance. The team was stood down at 07.03h.
Number of Brigade members in attendance: Four
135/26 – Sunday 4th October 2026 – 11.23h – HM Coastguard tasked the Brigade & Tynemouth RNLI lifeboat after receiving a report of a swimmer possibility in difficulty outside of King Edward’s Bay. The Lifeboat quickly reached the casualty and confirmed that no further assistance was required and all rescue resources were stood down.
Number of Brigade members in attendance: Four
136/26 – Sunday 4th October 2026 – 15.43h – The Brigade received a report of concern for a member of the public who had entered the sea at Whitley Bay beach. On route to the incident, the team received further information that the casualty was out of the water and dressed again. A welfare check was carried out, and the casualty was found to be well.
Number of Brigade members in attendance: Six
137/26 – Monday 5th October 2026 – 10.08h – The Brigade received a report of a pair of running shoes and socks abandoned at the surf line at the South end of Tynemouth Longsands. After receiving a detailed account from the first informant and carrying out further investigation, it was concluded there was no person in immediate danger. The shoes were left at Crusoe’s Cafe and a social media post issued asking for the owner of the shoes to come forward.
Number of Brigade members in attendance: Four
138/26 – Tuesday 6th October 2026 – 11.51h – HM Coastguard tasked the Brigade, Blyth Coastguard Rescue Team & RNLI Blyth Lifeboat after they received a report of a person injured on the rocks at Collywell Bay. The casualty had slipped and suffered a head injury. The casualty was packed into a stretcher and recovered to the waiting ambulance. All rescue resources were stood down at 12.55h. We wish the casualty a speedy recovery from their injuries.
Number of Brigade members in attendance: Five
