Buddy the Reindeer story goes global
- Southport Lifeboat
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
At the weekend, our team was called upon to assist in the search for Buddy the Reindeer after he escaped from Santa’s Enchanted Forest and strayed onto Formby Beach.
Our volunteers, alongside Police officers, local Coastguard teams, the Fire Brigade, Royal Marines and many others, worked together to ensure Buddy was brought to safety in time for Christmas. What began as a local incident quickly captured the imagination of people far beyond Merseyside.
Since then, Buddy’s adventure has been reported across the UK and internationally, with coverage appearing on television, in newspapers, online outlets and other broadcast media from Europe to North America, Asia and even as far as Australia.
For Southport Offshore Rescue Trust, this is a remarkable moment. We are an independent lifeboat, funded entirely by local donations and community support, dedicated to saving lives and helping in our area. To see our work talked about around the world is both humbling and inspiring.
The story of Buddy highlights not only the teamwork involved in his safe recovery, but also the vital role independent lifeboats play every day. Our volunteers train and prepare for emergencies on the water, yet when called upon we are equally ready to support our community in unexpected ways.
This incident showed the strength of multi‑agency cooperation, with police, Coastguard, Royal Marines, veterinary teams and our own volunteers working side by side to bring about a safe conclusion.
For us, the international attention is more than just headlines. It shines a light on the dedication of independent lifeboats, who rely on local fundraising to keep crews trained and equipment ready.
Every donation we receive goes directly into ensuring that we can respond when needed, whether that is a vessel in distress offshore or, as in this case, a reindeer wandering into danger.
We are proud that Buddy’s story has carried our name far beyond Southport, reminding people everywhere of the values of cooperation, care and resilience. While our mission is rooted in serving our local community, this moment shows that the work of independent lifeboats resonates across borders.
You can read some of the international coverage in the press clippings linked below:
The Southport Offshore Rescue Trust is an independent lifeboat funded entirely by local donations. If you’d like to support our work, please visit our Donate page.
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