TV show to feature Castletownbere volunteer lifeboat crew 

The BBC show 'Saving Lives At Sea' will air on April 2 on BBC 2

The Castletownbere lifeboat berthed at the port. Picture: Dan Linehan

The brave actions of the volunteer lifeboat crew of Castletownbere are coming to our screens next month, as the RNLI marks 200 years of saving lives on our coasts.

The BBC show Saving Lives At Sea, is now on its ninth season, and will feature the volunteer crew from the West Cork town when it screens on April 2, at 8pm, on BBC 2.

Its opening episode will see presenter Dermot O’Leary take a look at the involvement of RNLI crews during the Second World War, before later watching dramatic rescues through the eyes of these crews today.

A statement said: “Filming took place over the past year, with lifeboat crews and lifeguards carrying special cameras and welcoming film-makers into their day-to-day life.

“Rescues from the RNLI’s archives are also revisited, and we get a glimpse into the everyday lives of the thousands of men and women who give up their time to save lives.” 

The April 2 episode will see the Castletownbere crew undertake a medivac after the lifeboat launched to help a fisherman who had become seriously ill aboard a trawler on rough seas 3.2km off Mizen Head in November.

Donagh Murphy, a volunteer who was on his first call out and features in the series, said: “It’s great to be able to showcase the work we do on TV like this and allow the public to see how their generous donations help us to save lives. 

"We’re all looking forward to watching the episode.”