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Grief to Grit: Man Joins Lifeboat After Tragedy
6 May
Summary
- 19-year-old joins lifeboat crew to honor deceased twin.
- He was inspired to help others after a car crash.
- Training brought back traumatic memories but he pushed through.
A 19-year-old man has channeled profound grief into a life-saving mission after his identical twin died in a car crash. Josh Shannon, whose twin brother Joe passed away following a collision in August 2025, has now qualified as a member of the Hornsea Inshore Rescue crew. Josh, who performed CPR at the scene of the accident, found the casualty care training particularly challenging, as it evoked painful memories of the night he lost his brother.
Despite these difficulties, Josh was motivated by the prospect of saving others and providing families with the chance to say goodbye. His father, Karl Shannon, a leading coxswain, shared his pride in Josh's achievement, noting his resilience after Joe's death. Sue Hickson-Marsay, chair of Hornsea Inshore Rescue, also commended Josh's dedication. Investigations into the August 18, 2025 crash, which involved a 19-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of driving offenses, are ongoing.
