From Bystander to Lifesaver: Portrush Mum Joins Lifeboat Crew

When Magdalena Kiszko, known to most as Magda, first arrived in Portrush from Poland in 2006, she had no idea she’d one day be training to save lives on the open sea. 

“From the moment I moved here, people were so friendly,” said Magda. “This place became home so quickly. Now, joining the lifeboat crew feels like my way of giving something back to the community that welcomed me.”

Magda, 47, is no stranger to hard work or high energy. This mum of two is a teaching assistant at a Coleraine primary school; she also tutors GCSE and A-Level Polish at a Ballymena grammar school. Not only that, she runs a youth club for social services and does an after-school club. 

This would be exhausting enough for most of us; however, witnessing a heartbreaking incident in Portrush in the summer of 2023 triggered something within Magda, and she decided she would like to join the Portrush RNLI lifeboat crew.

“I was there on West Strand when the incident happened,” Magda explained quietly. “A man was fishing on the rocks and got washed in. The waves were just wild that day. Everyone tried to help him - surfers, people on the beach, the emergency services, but sadly it was too late.

“I saw the lifeboat crew in action, and I saw how calm and professional they were. I watched them and the paramedics, everyone was so impressive and I felt so helpless standing there, not able to do anything.”

The incident stayed with Magda for weeks. “It triggered something,” she explained. “I couldn't stop thinking about it. I wanted to be useful. I didn’t want to stand on the shore again, feeling powerless.”

So, she got in touch with the RNLI team and Judy Nelson. And while she wasn’t expecting an easy ride, when she met the Lifeboat Operations Manager, he laid it on the line to the eager mum.

“Beni McAllister sat me down and said, ‘You need to think about this seriously, it’s not easy.’ However, Magda was all in. “I’d already thought about it for weeks. I knew I wanted to apply.”

Becoming a member of the RNLI isn’t a quick one. “It’s not just a case of filling out an application form, it’s a process,” said Magda. “And I’m still going through the process, doing it tier by tier.

“I have to come to the boat house every time I am free and practise and learn from the lifeboat crew.

“It’s about knowing where everything is on the boats and we have two - the inshore boat and the all-weather lifeboat.

“You need to know where everything is because you can’t afford to make mistakes. There are so many things - where the oxygen is, how to get into the dry suit, drills in the water and there’s all sorts of theory and rope handling you need to know about.

“There’s a different terminology you need to know, which is like a third language for me, as I am Polish, but it’s all been very exciting.”

Magda has loved every minute. “My first water exercise on the bay in the RIB (inshore boat) was wild. I think some of the lads were testing me to see if I’d panic. I didn’t,” she laughs. “I’m still buzzing from it, honestly, it was so exhilarating.”

Last year Magda completed an intense emergency procedures course in Poole, which is the home of the RNLI College where these brave lifesavers are trained. This involved jumping into stormy simulated seas and learning how to help others in extreme conditions.

“I was the only woman on the course and when I arrived I thought I might back out,” Magda admits. “But five minutes in, I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be.”

Although she hasn’t yet been out on a shout, Magda has her pager and she’s is ready should she be called upon.

“One day, I was walking past the boathouse and the pager went off. I was the first one there. It turned out to be a job requiring a more experienced crew. But even if I’m not on the boat, there’s so much to do, getting gear ready, checking the boat, it’s all about teamwork.”

What does her family think about Magda’s latest career choice? “My mum wasn’t thrilled at first,” she said with a smile. “She said, No, not another job, and you are risking your life, but I don’t see it like that. 

“Since I was in primary school, I have wanted to help people. I don’t see it as risking my life. Of course, my family comes first, but we are well-trained, and I feel safe on the boat. There are so many people with me and we look after each other, we are a team.”

And that team spirit is something Magda felt from her very first day in Portrush. 

“This community welcomed me with open arms. Whether it was the school, the pub, or the beach, people made me feel like I belonged. This is my home and being on the crew now… It’s my way of saying thank you.”

At 47, Magdalena is proof that bravery and purpose don’t have an age limit. She’s one of a small but growing number of women joining lifeboat crews. Whether it’s prepping the gear, supporting her team on-shore, or standing by for that urgent pager buzz, she’s fully in.