British Maritime Rescue Service records a record number of donations

Enlarge image

RNLI lifeboat: overwhelming vote of confidence

Photo: Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

The British have taken a surprisingly clear position in the discussion about the national sea rescue service RNLI.

After heated discussions about rescuing refugees in the English Channel, donations rose by 2000 percent on Wednesday.

In total, according to the organization, more than 200,000 British pounds were received - usually 6,000 to 7,000 pounds a day at most.

Jayne George, the director of the RNLI responsible for fundraising, spoke of an overwhelming vote of confidence in the past few days. “In addition to many one-off benefits, we also received a large number of commitments for permanent monthly benefits. Others have increased their payments. ”A small number of donors would have turned their backs on the organization, however.

After criticizing the rescue operations for refugees on the English Channel, RNLI boss Mark Dowie defended the work of the sea rescue service in the Guardian. He was reacting to attacks by the far-right politician Nigel Farage, who had developed the RNLI into a "taxi service for criminal migrants." Members of the government then sided with the RNLI. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab had emphasized that the sea rescuers were doing an excellent job and that their actions did not violate any law.

The RNLI is very prominent in Great Britain, not least because of its spectacular public relations work.

Cameras are installed in the lifeboats to record the operations.

Dramatic scenes from such rescue operations are posted on YouTube to show supporters what the organization can do thanks to the donations - from the trawler being tossed by the waves in force 11 to a wet, trembling puppy that can be returned to its owner.

RNLI's YouTube channel has an average of 75,000 views per month and 10,000 viewers have subscribed to it.

mik