In the first episode, a retired nursery teacher gets herself into danger when attempting to rescue her two dogs after they became cut off by the rising tide. In Wales, one volunteer crew member is washed off a cliff into the sea trying to rescue a concussed spearfisherman, and, in Blackpool, a rescue in a force seven gale goes badly wrong, putting all three crew members' lives in jeopardy. When torrential floods hit Cumbria shortly before Christmas the volunteers are again on hand to try and rescue families trapped by the rising waters.

The volunteers are called to rescue two students who have jumped naked into the River Thames while high on LSD.

The volunteers are called to rescue the crew of a fishing boat that has run aground in the middle of a storm.

The volunteers are called to rescue a father who gets himself into difficulties after trying to rescue his son.