Manx RNLI volunteer retires after five decades

James 'Mike' Keggen has attended more than 300 call-outs

Report by BBC Isle of Man

The Isle of Man's longest standing RNLI crew member has retired after 51 years of voluntary service.

James "Mike" Keggen, who has been a Coxswain at Port St Mary lifeboat station for the last 22 years, has responded to more than 300 call-outs and saved 13 lives over his tenure.

Mr Keggen, who was made an MBE in December, has also undertaken the roles of crew, helm and mechanic and has served on both of the station's lifeboats.

Speaking of his MBE, he said it was a "real honour to receive the recognition in my final year of service, in the same year that the charity celebrates 200 years of life-saving".

Mr Keggen has been involved in a wide range of dramatic rescues, including a motorboat sinking off the coast of Port St Mary in the early hours of one July morning in 2004.

'Stalwart'

Volunteers witnessed people jumping from the stricken vessel into the sea as the boat sank before all three crew members, who were wearing life jackets, were pulled from the water by the team.

Mike Teare, Port St Mary RNLI’s lifeboat operations manager, described Mr Keggen as a "stalwart" of the station for "as long as most can remember".

"His skill, knowledge, expertise and dedication will be sorely missed," he continued.

"On behalf of the crew, past and present, thank you for your exceptional service."

Sarah Kneen, Mr Keggen's daughter and former lifeboat operations manager at the station said her father had "given so much to the station and RNLI and to think of him dedicating over 50 years to lifesaving makes us all so proud".