A woman who accused the RNLI of becoming “greedy” and predicted the “death of a charity” has received a blistering response after targeting its rescue work in the English Channel.
Debi Evans, who uses the X handle @DebiEvansMatron, claimed the lifesaving charity had turned a “huge majority” of the British public against it.
Her prediction appears particularly badly timed. The RNLI has reported a “significant” increase in donations after the organisation and its volunteers were targeted over rescues involving people crossing the Channel.
The backlash has included abuse, protests and threats directed at crew members. Security has been increased at some RNLI facilities while volunteers have been given advice about protecting themselves.
None of that has changed the charity’s position: if somebody is in danger at sea, its crews will attempt to save them.
RNLI responds to Channel criticism
The RNLI operates independently of the Government and relies overwhelmingly on charitable donations.
Its lifeboats are recognised search-and-rescue assets which are dispatched by HM Coastguard. The volunteer crews do not decide immigration policy, determine anybody’s legal status or choose which people are considered worthy of rescue.
According to the RNLI’s published figures, its crews launched 109 times in response to small boats during 2025.
Those incidents represented 1.2 per cent of all RNLI lifeboat launches during the year.
The charity says its volunteers rescued 2,353 people during those operations, equivalent to 5.7 per cent of the 41,472 people recorded crossing the Channel in small boats in 2025. Most people were assisted by Border Force or other agencies.
The figures put the argument into perspective. Almost 99 per cent of RNLI launches had nothing to do with Channel migration.
Crews continued responding to emergencies involving sailors, swimmers, fishing vessels and people in difficulty around Britain and Ireland’s coastline.
The claim treats everybody rescued from a small boat as a criminal and suggests the RNLI is responsible for bringing people to Britain.
In reality, crews respond when they are dispatched by HM Coastguard. Their purpose at the scene is to prevent deaths rather than make decisions about asylum or immigration enforcement.
Search-and-rescue crews cannot simply tow or transport rescued people wherever individual donors would prefer. Their actions are directed by the relevant rescue authorities and governed by the circumstances at sea.
‘Without judgement or preference’
The row comes amid a broader campaign directed at the RNLI following its involvement in Channel rescues.
Far-right activists have accused the organisation of operating a “taxi service” for migrants and encouraged supporters to stop donating. Protests have taken place near facilities associated with the charity, while personal information about some crew members has reportedly been circulated online.
The RNLI has rejected false claims that it secretly houses people seeking asylum. Its leadership has also made clear that intimidation will not persuade its volunteers to abandon anybody whose life is at risk.
“For more than 200 years, the #RNLI has saved lives at sea without judgement or preference. That hasn’t changed, and it won’t.”
The charity was established in 1824 and has since saved more than 146,000 lives.
Its current work extends far beyond lifeboat launches. The organisation operates lifeguard services, teaches water safety and provides specialist training and equipment to volunteer crews.
People are entitled to disagree with Britain’s immigration system and the policies pursued by the Government. That political argument is separate from the immediate responsibility to save somebody whose boat is sinking.
The response to Evans also suggests that attempts to punish the RNLI may produce the opposite result. Rather than witnessing the “death of a charity”, its critics have helped persuade some people to donate more.
15 responses to “Woman tells ‘greedy’ RNLI that charity begins at home – the replies are brutal”
AMH
Greedy? Do those they save give them biscuits? What a sick , deluded woman
Im a nurse and ashamed of that woman’s lack of concern and compassion. Im also an immigrant- and although retired on ill health my entire NHS career I was in the higher tax bracket.
To get my citizenship I had to pass a test and prove my good character (on three occasions…) and queued for hours- and I took an oath of allegiance to this country and the Crown. Our flag-wrapped racists should have to take that test, pass the good character test, and take that oath- or go someplace else unril they are fit for the privilege of enjoying a life here. I value and am proud of my citizenship because I EARNED it and proved the country benefittef . Just being born here doesn’t make you more valuable than anyone else- especially people who betray the core British values of fairness, fair play, and looking out for the underdog.
Daft, compassionless, ignorant witch. I hope neither she nor her familyneed to be rescued by the RNLI. Presumably, she’d tell them to eff off if they had the temerity to try and rescue her or them.
Clear demonstration of how effective propaganda is especially on the ideologically stupid. Anyone who criticises an organisation for saving people are showing signs of narcissistic and sociopathic tendencies. History repeating itself. Far right playbook – cause a group to hate a minority and pin falsely all there problems and issues on that group and demonise those who help them.
Brilliant, Jennifer 🙂 Do you know if you maybe accidentally send one to big Uncle Nige, post-free, he has to pay the postage too? Under no circumstances must you circulate this info, cos that could cost reform a lot of money. I won’t be sending him twenty separate ones or anything. Oh no. Not me. No sirree
I cannot believe that this person was ever a nurse. As a nurse myself I am horrified at the lack of compassion to other human beings. Were none of her colleagues from other countries? She is a disgrace to the nursing profession and an embarrassment.
Just goes to show, there are folk who may have a University education but lack any common decency and in one rather bigoted message, undo any good she did as a nurse. In fact, maybe there needs to be an enquiry into her work history. Find people of colour all seem yo pass away on her shifts. If she’s happy to suggest the unpaid RNLI allow folk to drown based purely on their ethnicity, what’s to say she didn’t “help” folk along! She clearly hasn’t got a moral compass!
Joe Connor is a UK-based reporter specialising in politics, public policy, and national affairs. He has previously contributed to publications including The London Economic (JOE Media Group) and Spotted News.
At The Daily Britain, he covers Westminster politics, elections, and breaking political developments, alongside in-depth analysis of policy decisions and their real-world impact.
Im a nurse and ashamed of that woman’s lack of concern and compassion. Im also an immigrant- and although retired on ill health my entire NHS career I was in the higher tax bracket.
To get my citizenship I had to pass a test and prove my good character (on three occasions…) and queued for hours- and I took an oath of allegiance to this country and the Crown. Our flag-wrapped racists should have to take that test, pass the good character test, and take that oath- or go someplace else unril they are fit for the privilege of enjoying a life here. I value and am proud of my citizenship because I EARNED it and proved the country benefittef . Just being born here doesn’t make you more valuable than anyone else- especially people who betray the core British values of fairness, fair play, and looking out for the underdog.
Daft, compassionless, ignorant witch. I hope neither she nor her familyneed to be rescued by the RNLI. Presumably, she’d tell them to eff off if they had the temerity to try and rescue her or them.
Clear demonstration of how effective propaganda is especially on the ideologically stupid. Anyone who criticises an organisation for saving people are showing signs of narcissistic and sociopathic tendencies. History repeating itself. Far right playbook – cause a group to hate a minority and pin falsely all there problems and issues on that group and demonise those who help them.
Brilliant, Jennifer 🙂 Do you know if you maybe accidentally send one to big Uncle Nige, post-free, he has to pay the postage too? Under no circumstances must you circulate this info, cos that could cost reform a lot of money. I won’t be sending him twenty separate ones or anything. Oh no. Not me. No sirree
I cannot believe that this person was ever a nurse. As a nurse myself I am horrified at the lack of compassion to other human beings. Were none of her colleagues from other countries? She is a disgrace to the nursing profession and an embarrassment.
Just goes to show, there are folk who may have a University education but lack any common decency and in one rather bigoted message, undo any good she did as a nurse. In fact, maybe there needs to be an enquiry into her work history. Find people of colour all seem yo pass away on her shifts. If she’s happy to suggest the unpaid RNLI allow folk to drown based purely on their ethnicity, what’s to say she didn’t “help” folk along! She clearly hasn’t got a moral compass!
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