RNLI volunteers rescue two boys and a man at Blackpool pier

Two young cousins were rescued from drowning by Royal National Lifeboat Institution volunteers in a dramatic operation near Blackpool's South Pier on May 28. The boys, 10-year-old Subby and 12-year-old Kizza, had been clinging to the pier's stanchions for approximately 40 minutes as a rapidly rising tide battered them with waves.

The family from Leeds was visiting Blackpool during the May half-term holiday for an impromptu trip to celebrate Eid al-Adha. The boys' mother, Zully, described watching in horror as her son Subby was repeatedly submerged. She and her 21-year-old nephew, Ted, attempted to wade out to reach the children but were unable to get close enough. Police officers removed Zully from the water as she screamed for help.

A member of the public called 999, prompting the Coastguard to request the launch of Blackpool RNLI's lifeboat. The volunteer crew, responding to their 11th callout in seven days, arrived on scene with their D-class inshore lifeboat within four minutes. The crew located the boys and manoeuvred the boat alongside the pier supports to pull them to safety. Subby was reportedly bleeding from his arm from clinging to the structure and briefly slipped...