Isobel Tugwell, Shoreham Lifeboat Crew, RNLI

Winner of the IMRF Awards 2019 Category: #WomenInSAR

Isobel joined the RNLI Shoreham crew aged just 17 years old, while studying for her A level exams. With the support of the school, she was given a parking space and approval to leave lessons and join the crew whenever her pager went off alerting her to an emergency at sea.

She is a brave, inspirational, determined young lady whose life ambition was to save lives at sea – while successfully achieving three A* grades in her A level exams.

Isobel is one of the lifeboat crew on the D-class rigid inflatable lifeboat and the Tamar-class all-weather lifeboat.

Her first lifeboat call was on the inshore lifeboat to rescue a man, who was in the water following a suicide attempt.

The lifeboat crew found him and took him ashore to safety. Since then she has attended many calls at all times of the day and night – broken down boats, people in distress in the water, searches for casualties and attempted suicides.

She also takes part in training exercises every Wednesday and Sunday and cleans the boats and boathouse every Thursday night, no matter what the weather.

Isobel is an ambassador for the station during lifeboat station events, such as the annual open days, and promotes not only safety around our shores, but also women in Search and Rescue.

Isobel says: “Being part of the crew is like being part of a second family. I am one of three women crew members at Shoreham but we all feel like one team. I would encourage any woman who is interested, to join the family and have a go.”

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Photo Gallery of the IMRF Awards 2019 Day

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