Peel lifeboat station has congratulated volunteer Damian De Backer after successfully qualifying as Tier 1 Boat crew on the Shannon class lifeboat ‘Frank and Brenda Winter’.
Damian completed the rigorous assessment, which the RNLI describes as “a terrific accomplishment of boatmanship ensuring crew are mastering the essentials required for saving lives at sea”.
His inspiration to join the RNLI came after witnessing a rescue off the Manx coast decades ago.
“Witnessing the crew from Port St Mary’s lifeboat going to the aid of the yacht Melfort in 1981 left a lasting impression,” the charity said, citing that event as forming Damian’s decision to volunteer.
Damian’s volunteer career began in 2021 at Teddington on a D class lifeboat, where he was “a valued member of the crew in support of a busy stretch of Thames.”
A keen windsurfer and sailor, he returned to the Island in 2024 and the station said he has “become a much valued member of the crew and settled in very quickly to mastering the boatmanship required on a slightly larger boat”.