17 down
Rescue
from
island
–
lifeboat
team
wanting
number
in
back
of
boat
(7)
Rescue from island – lifeboat team wanting number in back of boat (7)
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The definition is at the beginning of the clue.
How the clue works
The answer means Rescue (to airlift someone to safety). Take RNLI, the lifeboat team (Royal National Lifeboat Institution), and drop the N as 'number' is wanted away, leaving RLI, then add I for island to get IRLI. Tuck that inside AFT, the back of a boat, so you get A-IRLI-FT spelling AIRLIFT.