Scarborough RNLI crew member nominated for an award

A Scarborough lifeboat crew member has been nominated for an award for going “that extra mile”.

Author: Karen LiuPublished 12th May 2021

A Scarborough lifeboat crew member has been nominated for an award for going “that extra mile”.

Mark Jenkinson will visit the Spa next Tuesday to be presented with a commendation by borough mayor Hazel Lynskey.

Cllr Lynskey explains:

“Last year, during the first lockdown, I asked residents to support my initiative in recognising the amazing, selfless work of so many during the extraordinary times we were experiencing to give personal recognition to individuals, households, groups or organisations who had gone that extra mile.”

Mark, an emergency-care assistant with Yorkshire Ambulance Service, has been a volunteer on the all-weather Shannon lifeboat for four years.

Last year, the tables were dramatically turned on him when he caught coronavirus and suddenly found himself on the receiving end of the NHS.

His symptoms included a high temperature, a persistent cough, lethargy, the loss of his sense of taste and smell, and he felt as if he couldn’t get enough air in his lungs.

He was treated at Scarborough Hospital’s A&E department and was out of action, in quarantine, until 3 June, when he returned to work and resumed his lifeboat duties, on call.

As a result, Mark’s plasma developed the antibodies which fight the virus and he was asked by the NHS blood centre to donate some.

He said:

“I went to Leeds to donate convalescent plasma in the hope of helping others suffering from Covid-19.”

Mark added that he didn’t know who had nominated him for the award, except that it was one of his Facebook friends.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Greatest Hits Radio app.