A FORMER RNLI West Kirby Lifeboat crew member has shared his account of being rescued by the same charity he volunteered for in a podcast.

James Gaskin speaks about his harrowing experience in the latest episode of the RNLI 200 Voices podcast.

As the RNLI commemorates and celebrates two centuries of lifesaving, the podcast tells true tales of how 200 lives have been touched by the charity - and how they have played a part.

You can listen to a new voice every day, for 200 days, from around and across the UK and Ireland - and beyond.

There are stories of kindness, courage and pride, all sharing how the charity's lifesavers have made a difference - and continue to help save lives today.

James' episode of the podcast, which was released on Tuesday (January 16), hears how he was trapped under a sail after being thrown overboard in pitch darkness, where James thought it was "the end".

Nearing the end of a solo sailing trip from Brittany to Ireland, James was enveloped by  darkness in the middle of a shipping lane.

Caught in squalls, he battened down the hatches but was thrown overboard. Exhausted, and dreading that a giant tanker might run over him, he thought his time was up.

You can listed to the podcast here.