Later that morning, a Brigade Captain received a report from the Brigade Historian that while out for an early morning walk he had discovered two pairs of shoes and two sets of underpants neatly piled up at the South end of Cullercoats Bay above the high-water mark. Upon investigation it was found that the clothes were wet and therefore it was assumed that the belongings had been abandoned after being worn in the sea during a late-night dip. HM Coastguard was informed of the find and subsequently spoke with Northumbria Police. As no persons had been reported missing, and all signs pointed to the items being abandoned after the owners had come out of the sea, HM Coastguard decided to carry out no further action while the matter was further investigated by the Police.

005/12 - 16th February 04.05 IRT

HM Coastguard paged the Brigade after receiving a report from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service that a man had climbed part-way up the superstructure of the Tyne Bridge and was threatening to jump off. Brigade members arrived on scene and stood by as officers from Northumbria Police spoke with the man. At around 04.45h the man agreed to be assisted off the Bridge and was carefully transferred into the basket of a Fire Service high-level platform before being safely returned to the ground. He was then taken into the care of Northumbria Police and the Brigade was stood down and returned to station.

004/12 - 1st February 15.20 IRT

HM Coastguard paged the Brigade after receiving a call from a concerned member of the public who could see a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) near a catamaran which appeared to have capsized placing a number of people in the sea. As Brigade members made their way towards the scene, the persons in the water were recovered and brought ashore near Tynemouth RNLI Station. Here, a number of them were taken to hospital by private car while one crewmember was taken into the Lifeboat Station and checked over by Lifeboatmen who happened to be at the station.  One Brigade member was requested by HM Coastguard to attend the Lifeboat Station to ensure that all persons were accounted for, which they were, while the other team members took up a vantage point and kept a safety watch over the RIB as it returned out to sea and, escorted by the Port of Tyne Pilot Cutter ‘Collingwood’ and HMS Explorer, recovered the capsized catamaran. Once the RIB had returned to the safety of the River the Brigade was stood down and returned to station.

003/12 - 29th January 01.56 IRT

HM Coastguard paged the Brigade and Tynemouth RNLI Inshore Lifeboat after receiving a report that a male may be attempting to swim across the River Tyne from the Tynemouth/North Shields area to South Shields. Brigade members arrived at Tynemouth Sailing Club where they found the first informant who explained that the missing male had last been seen at 01.30h stating his intention to swim the River and had consumed a large amount of alcohol.
As a search of the area was about to commence, the man entered Tynemouth RNLI Lifeboat Station by climbing up the ladder-steps from underneath the Lifeboat Station and straight into their base.  Here he made himself known to the Lifeboat crew, and although he took them somewhat by surprise, he was cared for and looked after until officers from Northumbria Police arrived and he was handed over into their care.

002/12 - 8th January 00.10 IRT

HM Coastguard paged the Brigade after receiving a 999 call from a member of the public, who was parked in his car near the Cullercoats VHF aerial mast between St. Mary’s Island and Hartley Bay, who reported seeing a succession of approximately 15 bright white lights exploding in the sky over a period of about 10 minutes. The location the man gave for where the lights were put them roughly in the position of the Ordnance Buoy which is anchored 1 mile off the Whitley Bay Coastline.
Four Brigade members arrived on scene, spoke with the first informant and carried out a detailed search of the area with nothing found. A number of other members of the public were spoken to by Brigade members and they all reported seeing no lights in the sky out to sea. While this was taking place, HM Coastguard carried out a number of radio broadcasts to shipping in the local area with nothing untoward reported. With no vessels reported as overdue, and with nothing found during the search, the first informant was thanked for his vigilance and the call was put down as a false alarm with good intent.

001/12 - 6th January 23.48 IRT + BRT

HM Coastguard paged the Brigade along with Tynemouth RNLI Inshore Lifeboat after receiving a report from the North East Ambulance Service that a man had been seen to jump off the Tyne Bridge into the River Tyne. The Brigade’s Backup Response Team was called out and seven Brigade members made their way towards the scene.
Once on scene, Brigade members discovered that a number of members of the public had watched the man land in the River at around 23.10h and then float face down up river for approximately 200 metres before slipping under the surface. Despite a detailed search by Brigade members and the Lifeboat, no trace of the man was found and both units were stood down shortly before 1am.
Officers from Northumbria Police, the Northumbria Police Helicopter, paramedics from the North East Ambulance Service’s Hazardous Area Response Team and ground units and the Fire Boat from the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service were also in attendance at this incident.