After joining Teddington’s RNLI on a training session, it is hard to believe that this well-drilled team is made up entirely of volunteers.

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I met the team at their headquarters in Twickenham Road and clambered into my dry suit, which crew members are able to get on in less than two minutes, but took me closer to 10.

Andy Butterfield, who has been a member for more than 12 years, told me when he gets an emergency call-out in the middle of the night he can go from his bed in Teddington’s High Street and be on the water in five minutes.

I joined Andy and crew members Tim James and Manon Jones on the water for a demonstration of the "throw-line", a bag of rope that could be kept under the bar of riverside pubs in case there is an emergency in the water.

It was decided that Tim and I should be the "casualties" in the water while Manon should remain in the boat with a "head injury".

After wading out until I began slowly drifting downstream, Andy threw me the throw-line, which I grabbed gratefully with freezing fingers, and he dragged me back to the bank in what was a simple and easy rescue.

Andy told me many pubs along the river have been equipped with the throw-lines and staff have been trained how to use them, but it is vitally important as many are possible are given the equipment, which could mean the difference between life and death in an emergency.

He later showed me an incredible video taken a few years ago in which two young men were struggling to stay afloat in the River Thames under Kingston Bridge. Just seconds away from disaster, a bouncer from a nearby bar threw a line to the men, which enabled them to keep afloat until they could be rescued.

The team rallied around Manon, who talked them through her "injuries" as they were meticulously noted down, a neck brace was applied and she was taken back to safety on the boat.

I was struck not only by the enthusiasm and professionalism on the crew, but also by the camaraderie and how everyone enjoyed each others' company and getting stuck into the task at hand. After everyone had changed out of their dry suits we all went to the pub as a team, and it felt like a group of friends going for a quick one following a mid-week game of five-a-side, rather than a team of volunteers honing their life-saving skills.

The crew, who receive between 70 and 80 call-outs a year, hope to recruit more volunteers, after a few members moved away from the area.

Andy said: "You don’t need to have existing skills, we can give you all the training you need. The only things are basic physical fitness and availability during the week."

Contact Andy Butterfield on 07824 526145 for more information about volunteering and throw-lines.