RNLI Penarth's new helmsman James King had a busy first day on the job.

James had his first shift as helmsman on January 30, making a callout to a fishing boat which had become grounded on a sandbank in the channel, and then saving three people stuck on a small patch of dry land beneath a cliff as the tide came in around them.

The first callout of the first day as helmsman came at 11.00am. James received reports of a fishing boat which had become grounded on a sandbank in the channel.

Penarth’s D-class lifeboat launched, and the crew checked the safety of the four people on board the fishing vessel.

The lifeboat brought an adult and a child back to the lifeboat station while the remaining two people waited with their boat to refloat on the tide.

At 6.30pm, James and the crew were called out again, tasked to assist three people cut off by the tide at Lavernock Point.

Both of Penarth’s lifeboats launched, along with Penarth Coastguard Rescue Team, and found the three people on a small patch of dry land beneath the cliff as the tide came in around them. The three people were brought safely back to the lifeboat station on the D-class lifeboat.

James has been a crew member at Penarth for several years before taking on the role of helm.

Volunteering as lifeboat crew and attending medical emergencies even inspired a career change for James in his day job, and he has now been a member of the ambulance service for seven years.

James said he was proud to be the newest helm for Penarth.

“Having gained experience over the years as a member of the volunteer crew, I am delighted to be the newest helm at RNLI Penarth and look forward to joining the complement of other helm crew members,” said James.

“It was great to put all the training into practice and achieve a good outcome from both callouts, ensuring all the casualties were safe and well.”

Jason Dunlop, lifeboat operations manager at RNLI Penarth said James will do a wonderful job as the town’s helm.

“We would like to congratulate James King on becoming our newest D-class helm,” said Jason.

“The journey to becoming helm requires a lot of training and dedication, and James will be a great asset to the station, further enhancing our ability to respond to the call to save lives.”