Online appeal in memory of Filey lifeboatman Lee Cowling smashes its original target

So far, £1,200 has been collected and donations are still flooding into the Just Giving page set up in memory of Lee Cowling.

Lee joined Filey Lifeboat when he was 18, having been a member of Filey Sea Cadets since he was 12.

He died suddenly on June 5, aged just 46.

His funeral was held yesterday and large numbers of people gathered as his funeral cortege passed along Filey's foreshore.

Younger members of Filey RNLI volunteer crew formed a guard of honour on the deck of the all-weather lifeboat in Lee’s honour.

Lee was dedicated to his lifeboat volunteering and took part in countless rescues off the Filey coast.

He was also instrumental in bringing back the annual raft race in 2015.

He served on both the all-weather and inshore boats, eventually becoming an ILB helm.

Money from the online fundraising page will go to the RNLI because Lee wanted to save more lives at sea.

Donations can be made HERE