Every day around the UK, an army of unpaid volunteers put their lives on the line to try and save complete strangers. Saving Lives at Sea tells the story of the ordinary men and women of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) who, across the country, are ready to launch their boats and race to the rescue within minutes of a cry for help - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, whatever the weather. Using footage shot on crews' own cameras, this series takes us right into the heart of the action, capturing the unpredictable work of the RNLI in never-before-seen detail.

On one of the hottest days of the year, the Dover crew race to a Channel swimmer who has collapsed within eyesight of the French coast. In Mudeford, there are growing fears for a dinghy sailor four miles out in rough seas and refusing to accept help. And the Tenby crew are called to a runaway yacht metres off running aground. Show less