By Lucy Wilkins BBC News Online

Britain's lifeboats were busier than ever last year, attempting over 8,000 rescues, yet the service still relies on volunteers and donations to stay afloat.

Mark Sawyer is one of those 4,600 crewmen based at about 230 lifeboat stations around Britain who risk their lives in all weathers, all year round.

Mark Sawyer's courage earned him an award for gallantry

He told BBC News Online how his sole motivation was a love of the sea and a desire to help others.

It has kept him going through 13 years service with the RNLI, which marks its 180th anniversary this year.

For the 41-year-old the feeling when returning to shore from a rescue attempt is initially just shock at having been out in atrocious conditions.

"Then there's a feeling of jubilation and pride at having been able to do the job," he said from his base at Eastbourne.

"It's also very humbling when you realise that the service is all run on donations and volunteers."

Career highlight

Volunteering with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for 11 years, he then became a full-time professional coxswain at Eastbourne, looking after 28 crew and 10 shore helpers.

A highlight of his career was when he received a silver medal from the RNLI for gallantry in rescuing two stricken sailors who had been thrown overboard as they tried to sail their yacht into Eastbourne harbour one night in October 2002.

In the dark, with a swell of 3 metres (9.8 feet), and unable to make radio contact with the yacht, the lifeboat and crew themselves struggled in the conditions.

The yacht was being grounded and eventually capsized.

Although the female sailor was recovered relatively quickly, her male companion was exhausted and on the point of giving up.

Crew members were almost washed overboard in their attempts to rescue him, and it eventually took four men to lift him from the water into the lifeboat.

Love of the sea

Mr Sawyer started his volunteering when a friend who was already a volunteer suggested that he join the RNLI. It was a perfect match for Mr Sawyer.

"Basically it was a love of the sea that got me interested. I love going on to the sea, fishing and living near the sea."

The shift from volunteer to fulltime professional has increased his responsibilities.

"When you're a volunteer you can, at any stage, decide that enough is enough and hand in your pager, just step back if you want to.

"But as a coxswain, I have an awful lot of responsibility."

Having worked my way up from being a volunteer to a coxswain, I will never forget where I came from Mark Sawyer Lifeboat coxswain

Despite the added burden, his continued passion for the job is evident when he says "I am very, very lucky and very privileged to be doing this job every day."

He has just over three years left before he will not be allowed to crew the inshore lifeboat, and about 13 years before crewing the all-weather lifeboat will also have to stop.

"But without a doubt I will continue for as long as I can," he said.

Stringent medical requirements often mean some volunteers fail to meet their goal of going out on the boats, but they can still help onshore.

"We have a great bunch of lads here, and having worked my way up from being a volunteer to a coxswain, I will never forget where I came from."

He said there is never any shortage of volunteers.

"It's so much better to have people here because they want to be here, rather than someone who has to be here because they are getting paid."