RNLI volunteers in the UK were in the middle of a crew member’s wedding when their pagers went off, summoning them to rescue six people stranded on a beach near Ilfracombe, Devon. The lifesavers, who were lined up the aisle creating an arch for newlyweds Ashley Witcombe and his wife Cheryl, raced to the lifeboat station and launched the inshore lifeboat within just seven minutes.
Wedding photographer Becky Payne, 39, captured the dramatic moment, saying, “They’d literally just got married. We went outside and just after we took a couple of pictures they had to run. It was pretty exciting.”
Despite the challenging conditions, the RNLI crew successfully rescued the three adults and three children who had become stranded during a paddleboarding trip. Later that afternoon, the lifeboat crew drove past the seaside wedding venue again while on a training exercise and waved to the newlywed couple.
RNLI lifeboatman Leigh Hanks acknowledged the disruption to Ashley and Cheryl’s special day, saying, “We hope the pagers didn’t disrupt Ashley and Cheryl’s special day too much, although I’m sure it’s something they’re both used to. It’s not the first time the pagers have gone off at a crew wedding, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.”
There is so much to take home from here, particularly the respect for human life. It requires immense selflessness and compassion for individuals celebrating a special occasion to consider the needs of others. Their swift actions and professionalism not only gave rise to a successful rescue but also ensured a positive outcome for everyone involved.