RNLI Easter safety warning after sharp rise in people rescued in 2016

RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews at seven stations from Penarth to Burry Port rescued 381 people in trouble at sea last year – one higher than the 2015 total. The total number of lifeboat launches in the south Wales area in 2016 was 398 – 29 more than in 2015.

The charity’s lifeguards working on 22 west Wales beaches from Freshwater West to Whitmore Bay responded to 868 incidents and rescued or assisted 1,007 people.

The figures come as families think about heading to the Welsh coastline during the Easter break and the RNLI wants to help equip people with the knowledge and skills to avoid trouble in the first place and know what to do should they find themselves or others in danger in the water.

Matt Crofts, RNLI Lifesaving Manager, said: ‘Once again we are extremely grateful for the dedication shown by our lifesavers across Wales in 2016. Our volunteer lifeboat crews in Wales spent over 27,820 hours at sea last year, but we really do see our rescue service as a last resort.

‘Our annual Respect The Water drowning prevention campaign will be launching for 2017 soon and we urge people to give the water the heathy respect it deserves. While we will always answer the call for help, myself and everyone within the RNLI would like to see people thinking about their safer at the coast.’

Across the whole of Wales’ 30 RNLI stations, there was an increase of 11% on lifeboats launches last year, with crews going to sea on rescue callouts 1,175 times. The number of people rescued was also up 13% to 1,162. A total of 73 lives were saved.

Of the 30 RNLI lifeboat stations around Welsh coast, the three with most launches in 2016 were all in south Wales. The Mumbles RNLI, which has an all-weather and inshore lifeboat, had the highest number of launches for a second year in succession, although their total dropped from 98 to 83. They also rescued 95 people.

Porthcawl RNLI crew, who launched 80 times and rescued 45 people, were again Wales’ busiest inshore lifeboat station team in 2016 in terms of callouts.

Penarth RNLI, which recently closed a successful £52,000 fundraising appeal for a new D class lifeboat, rescued more people than any other station across Wales, at 109. Seven of those were classed as lives saved. Their number of launches also rose significantly to 74, compared with 46 in 2015.

Burry Port RNLI also saw a sharp rise in how many people they rescued last year, jumping from 35 in 2015 to 75 in 2016. The number of launches at both Horton and Port Eynon RNLI on Gower and Barry Dock RNLI lifeboat stations also increased.

Matt Crofts added: ‘We’re calling on anyone visiting the coast to make safety a priority, whether that means wearing a lifejacket, checking their vessel before they go afloat, knowing they should call 999 and ask for the Coastguard in the event of an emergency, checking the tide times before they set out, or staying away from cliff edges and unstable coastal paths.’

The volunteer lifeboat crews carry pagers 24/7, never knowing what may lie ahead when the alarm is raised. Last year saw an increase in people being cut off by the tide, with this cause accounting for 125 lifeboat launches across Wales – up from 111 in 2016. Other causes for lifeboat launches last year include people in danger of drowning (92), missing people (94) and people thought to be in trouble (164).

All-Wales figures for RNLI lifeguards show they responded to 1,271 incidents and rescued or assisted 1,436 people, up on the 2015 figures.

RNLI lifeguards were stationed at 39 beaches across Wales in 2016 – more than ever before – with new safety services launched at Three Cliffs Bay on Gower, four beaches in Porthcawl and Rhyl and Prestatyn beaches in Denbighshire. All beaches will again have a lifeguard service this summer and lifeguards will be on duty at Whitmore Bay on Barry Island, Trecco Bay and Coney beach in Porthcawl, Aberavon beach in Port Talbot, Three Cliffs Bay on Gower, Tenby South beach and Whitesands beach in Pembrokeshire.

Paul Eastment, RNLI Area Lifesaving Manager, said: ‘Wales’ beaches will begin to get busier over the Easter period and we urge any anyone visiting the coast over the holiday period to seek safety information and be prepared. We also urge people to visit a lifeguarded beach and seek advice on safety from our fully trained lifeguards.’

Across the UK and Republic of Ireland, lifeboat launches were up 7.5% to 8,851 in 2016 - a five-year high – while the number of people rescued was 8,643, up from 7,973 the previous year.

Notes to editors

• Follow the link to a free downloadable video of a Wales and West 2017 RNLI compilation rescue video. https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2017/march/27/wales-rnli-rescues-2016 Credit: RNLI
• Attached is a picture of The Mumbles RNLI lifeboat. Credit Stephen Duncombe

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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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