Skip to content

What it takes to become a coastguard

Zhara Simpson
BBC News, South West
BBC Coastguard recruits wearing dry suits to the right watching three people in the water. They are stood at Brixham Beach.BBC
People across Devon and Cornwall are undergoing training to become local coastguards

A group of new coastguard volunteers in Devon are undergoing an intensive training programme to help save lives.

Thirteen new recruits in the south west have been put through their paces, completing a mix of online and practical training, including a water rescue at Brixham Beach.

Caroline Pellow, who works as a solicitor in her day job, said she was inspired to sign up for the role because her friends were rescued by the coastguard when she was younger.

Drew Parkinson, who has been a coastguard for 14 years, said the job could be "tough", but teams bonded together well and looked after each other.

Caroline Pellow stood in her dry suit and gear at Brixham beach. She is wearing a blue hat, a red vest and yellow jacket. In the background is the other recruits near the water
Caroline Pellow said she was looking forward to her first call out after completing the training

Ms Pellow said: "I waited until my kids were a bit older and I felt like I had a bit more time to volunteer.

"When I have done first-aid courses before, you hope that you won't have to use it, but all of this we will end up needing to use at some point, so it gives it an extra element that you want to get it right and keep practicing."

She said it was not a role people could take on "too lightly".

"I think when you are actually doing it and you are trying to pull people out of the water, you are just thinking about that, and you have a lot of adrenaline," said Ms Pellow.

Drew Parkinson smiling towards the camera and stood on Brixham beach. He is wearing a yellow hi-vis jacket and white hat. There are recruits in the background.
Drew Parkinson said people joined the coastguard teams to get a "bit of a thrill" from their corporate jobs

Mr Parkinson, who has been a coastguard for 14 years, said local coastguard teams across the South West dealt with up to 200 incidents a year.

He said coastguards dealt with their "fair share of traumatic incidents", adding there were a number of fatalities around the coast every year.

He added local teams could have up to six or seven incidents a day during the summer, so finding a balance between volunteering, a day job and family life could be "quite difficult".

"It can be tough, but the teams are really lucky they bond together well and look after each other," he said.

Caroline Pellow swimming towards the casualty in the water. She is pushing a red buoy towards him. The casualty has his arms in the air.
Drew Parkinson said knowing you have helped someone in need as a coastguard was important

Jack Browse, who was born and raised in Brixham, said he joined the team because he wanted to give back to his community.

He said: "I am a general builder based in Brixham so it is good for callouts, and I can be on hand whenever I need to."

Jack Browse stood at Brixham beach wearing a dry suit. He has a blue hat on, a red vest and yellow jacket. In the background, to the left, is another recruit on the floor.
Jack Browse was born and raised in Brixham and joined the coastguards to give back to his local community

Describing the water training exercise undertaken by the new recruits, he said: "You don't realise how exhausting it is until you get [to] land. It's quite life-like."

Mr Browse also said there was a "good community" within the coastguards.

He said he had met new people from different areas through the training, who he may have not met in his day job.

Three coastguards walking out of the water.
Drew Parkinson said local coastguard teams across the South West deal with up to 200 incidents a year

Lucy Holmes has been a coastguard for about two years, and works at the Brixham Marina.

She said she became a coastguard after being rescued at sea on two occasions.

"It is a really rewarding role," said Ms Holmes.

Lucy Holmes stood wearing a yellow jacket. She is holding a blue hat in her right arm. The new recruits are stood in the background carrying out an exercise.
Lucy Holmes said she has been a coastguard for about two years

She added: "You never know when your pager goes off where you will be going.

"You just drop everything and go.

"It is a real privilege to be involved in helping people."

Mr Parkinson said the south west coastguard teams had about 550 volunteers and were frequently recruiting to "keep on top of that level".

Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].

More on this story