01/07/2026
Please be kind to people
🚨 Can we talk about kindness?
Yesterday, Whitby Coastguard Rescue Team attended a sensitive incident which thankfully had a positive outcome.
Whilst dealing with the incident, one of our Coastguard Rescue Officers had to deal with something they simply shouldn’t have had to.
After calmly asking a member of the public to move away from the cliff edge and pass by to respect the space around an ongoing emergency, they were met with abuse, intimidation and unnecessary confrontation.
That officer wasn’t stood there for the view. They weren’t being awkward. They were in the middle of supporting someone in crisis, alongside the rest of the team, in what could become a dangerous environment. Those involved in the incidents safety was paramount, as was this member of the public’s.
There is a time to ask questions and a time to simply trust that emergency services are asking something for a reason.
Every cordon, every diversion and every request to step back is there to protect someone. Sometimes it’s to protect the casualty. Sometimes it’s to protect our crews. Often it’s both.
The last thing any emergency responder should be facing is aggression from someone choosing to ignore those instructions.
As we head into another busy summer, our volunteers are being called away from family meals, children’s sports days, evenings at home and nights in bed more and more often. Some days we return from one incident only for the pager to sound again before we’ve even had chance to reset. That is becoming the reality of volunteering on our coastline.
We volunteer because we genuinely care about our community.
But we do expect to be treated with the same respect that every emergency service deserves. We also ask that someone who is going through a crisis is treated with that same respect and kindness. What happens when it’s your turn to call us on a bad day?
To the countless people who quietly move back, follow directions, wait patiently and often thank us as they pass , thank you. You probably don’t realise it, but your support helps more than you know. It allows us to concentrate on the person who needs us most.
Please remember that if you come across an emergency incident this summer, there will always be far more happening than you can see.
Give us the space to do our job. Show a little patience. Show a little kindness.
It could make all the difference.
On a much more positive note, the day didn’t end there. After clearing from the incident, members of the team grabbed a quick break before heading straight back out to support training with our colleagues at Staithes Coastguard and Redcar Coastguard Rescue Team.
A huge congratulations to Jay on successfully passing out as a Rope Rescue Technician. It’s a qualification that takes dedication, commitment and plenty of hard work, and we’re looking forward to working alongside you on the cliffs for many years to come.
Well done, Jay, and thank you to everyone involved in helping train and assess our volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officers.
📟On call for our community 24/7
💙Your Whitby Coastguard Rescue Team
