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Every day in the seas around the UK and Ireland, an army of unpaid volunteers put their lives on the line to save those of others. Saving Lives at Sea tells the story of the ordinary men and women of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) who are ready to answer their pager’s call and race to the rescue of those in trouble, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, whatever the weather. Using footage shot on the crews’ own cameras, this series takes us into the heart of the action, capturing the unpredictable work of the RNLI in unique detail.

From seasoned skippers to seaside day trippers, the unpredictable seas around our coastline can catch anyone out at any time, and more often than not it is the RNLI who come to their rescue.

The crew at Salcombe in Devon are called out to one of the most dangerous emergencies at sea – fire. A fishing boat has gone up in flames with her skipper still on board.

On the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, the crew of Sheerness lifeboat station get a late-night call and have to race the incoming tide to save a man stuck in freezing mud after an evening stroll along the coast turns into a battle for survival.

Meanwhile, at one of the busiest stations in the UK, Chiswick on the River Thames in London, an emergency call comes in. A dog has fallen into the Thames, and, after trying to save her dog from drowning, the owner now needs rescuing herself.