Penny Jeffcoate, Senior Teaching Fellow in Maritime Engineering, recently appeared in the BBC series Saving Lives at Sea, which showcases the work of RNLI volunteers rescuing people in distress and promoting water safety around the UK.

A volunteer with Cowes RNLI, Penny featured in an episode following a call-out to assist a woman who had fallen onto the tiller of her vessel, resulting in suspected spinal injuries. Thankfully, the casualty made a good recovery and is now back on the water.

Penny said:

“I had the great privilege of filming for BBC’s Saving Lives at Sea, which demonstrates the work of the RNLI volunteers in rescuing those in distress at sea and educating others about water safety.

“Our shout for Cowes RNLI B Class lifeboat was a woman who had fallen onto the tiller of her vessel, resulting in suspected spinal injuries. Fortunately, she only suffered some broken ribs, but she greatly appreciated the administered pain relief. She has made a good recovery and is now back on the water.

“The work of the RNLI is a cause dear to my heart as a mariner, and I am very proud to volunteer for them. I have pursued this further into my research, most recently with a HEIF funded project on evaluating search patterns in areas of high tidal flow, and a new PhD student this term in the Centre for Doctoral Training in Complex Integrated Systems for Defence and Security (CISDnS CDT).”