A family's thank you: "If it wasn’t for Redcar RNLI we wouldn’t be here today"

• Watch Katie Cole's report here

A father and son from Middlesbrough say they owe their lives to volunteers from the RNLI. 

Mark Heslehurst and his son Edward, 17, were walking beneath the cliffs at Saltburn inFebruary 2020, when they were cut off by the tide. After calling 999, Redcar's lifeboat was launched to save the pair.

Upon the crew's arrival, Mark explained that Edward has Asperger’s and was anxious about getting in the lifeboat. One member of the crew went ashore to reassure Edward and explain how they were going to be helped to safety.

Watch the full bodycam footage of how the crew put their training into action when helping Edward:

With still another three hours before high tide and sea levels were rising quickly, Mark and Edward were guided to the lifeboat and landed ashore at Saltburn beach into the care of a waiting Coastguard rescue team.

As a thank you, Mark has sent a video message to thank the crew who saved their lives and to lend his support to the RNLI’s Christmas appeal.