A proud father joined his son on his first lifeboat shout as RNLI crew as the team launched to reports of a “struggling swimmer” out at sea.

Samuel Leigh, a newly qualified crew member at Littlestone Lifeboat Station, had only recently completed his training when the Coastguard requested an immediate launch following a 999 call.

With the crew still in their drysuits after a morning exercise on Sunday, October 26, the boat was in the water within 90 seconds of the call made by a member of public.

It was led by Samuel’s father, Peter Leigh, at the helm.

The crew quickly reached the reported location off Battery Point, Hythe, where they found a spear fisherman who, after a precautionary safety check, was confirmed not to be in distress.

Although the call turned out to be a false alarm with good intent, the shout marked a proud moment for the Leigh family, as Samuel became the third generation to join an RNLI crew.

Peter then recalled his own callouts alongside his father, Pat, in the late 1980s.

John Kenny, lifeboat operations manager at RNLI Littlestone, said: “I’m delighted for Sam that his first shout was afloat with his dad.

“The time and effort that all our volunteer crew members give to Littlestone is extremely humbling.

“It’s a tough job that is only possible with the team effort that everyone contributes to.”

Peter, who began volunteering with the RNLI more than 30 years ago, has long been recognised for his “selfless commitment” to saving lives at sea.

Now, with Samuel completing his training alongside studying at the London School of Economics, that legacy continues.

Samuel said: “I’m really excited to continue this family tradition of volunteering for the RNLI, and I am so pleased to be following in my dad’s and grandad’s footsteps.

“It’s very rewarding to know that I am another link in the chain of volunteers helping to save lives at sea at Littlestone.”

The Littlestone station, located in Coast Drive, Greatstone-on-Sea, is one of 238 RNLI lifeboat stations around the UK and Ireland.

It currently operates the Jean McIvor (B-922), a B-class Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat, funded through a £600,000 donation from Second World War Women’s Royal Air Force radar operator Jean Campbell McIvor.