Civic Award for Scarborough RNLI Crew Member

Wednesday, 12 May 2021 12:14

By Matthew Pells

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: