A Sandbach man will be starting 2025 with a difference after training to become a lifeboat member after getting a taste of the high seas. 

Dave Hursthouse has joined the Porthdinllaen lifeboat crew on the Llyn peninsula as a trainee all-weather lifeboat crew member. 

In July he was part of a 12-person crew taking part in a longboat challenge across the Irish Sea to celebrate two milestone anniversaries. 

Since taking up the role, Dave has taken part in various rescues, including reports of a possible object in the sea near Porthysgaden.

Arriving on scene the volunteer lifeboat crew searched for a possible missing person in the water, with Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from nearby Caernarfon Airport, a coastguard aircraft from Liverpool and land-based Coastguard teams from Abersoch and Aberdaron joining in the search.

On another occasion Dave found himself part of the crew answering a Mayday call at 3.43am after the coastguard had received a Mayday from a yacht in Caernarfon Bay.

Another call out involved rescuing a father and three children who had got into difficulties on their paddleboard in Porthdinllaen Bay.

Dave Hursthouse is enjoying his role as a volunteer lifeboat member. (Photo: Dave Hursthouse)

The Irish challenge celebrated the 160th anniversary of the first lifeboat to be stationed at Porthdinllaen and the 200th year of the RNLI. 

Dave said at the time: "We are also raising much needed funds to allow us to continue to save lives at sea for another 160 years. 

"We're planning to take on the Irish Sea during July 2024 by rowing a Pembrokeshire longboat from Wicklow Lifeboat Station to Porthdinllaen Lifeboat Station - a distance of 54 nautical miles. 

Dave Hursthouse is training to become a lifeboat crew member. (Photo: Dave Hursthouse)

"We're hoping to do this on Saturday, July 13th weather permitting and if not then in the weeks either before or after. 

 "I'll be part of the 12-person crew rowing the boat. We'll have a yacht and a rigged hulled inflatable boat supporting us." 

The crew set up a JustGiving page for their epic longboat event which has already raised £1,340. Donations can be made via this link here

Dave is excited about becoming a lifeboat crew member which involves going through extensive training. 

It included six days intensive training at the RNLI's college in Poole in Dorset to learn about sea survival skills and lifeboat seamanship skills. 

But Dave is no stranger to learning new skills and taking part in challenges. A keen runner, he took part in the Pen Llyn Ultra Marathon last year as we told here

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