SEVEN ‘SHOUTS’ IN SEVEN DAYS FOR TEDDINGTON RNLI

The requests came from HM London Coastguard and all of the call outs or ‘shouts’ were safely resolved with volunteer crews launching one lifeboat, in all but one incident where both D class lifeboats were launched.

Not all incidents were related to the current heatwave. However, they highlight the need for caution when on or near the river and the risks around diving or swimming.

‘This stretch of the Thames is well used which also means a large amount of debris on the riverbed, this is dangerous to those jumping into relatively shallow water.’, warns Matt Allchurch, Teddington RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager. ‘Currently at low tide there is only around 2.5 metres of water under Teddington Foot Bridge.

‘Even though the air temperature is very warm, water temperatures are still cold, so cold water shock remains a very real risk, eventually preventing you from being able to swim.

If you are going to swim in the river, go with others, enter the water slowly, make sure you are visible and swim parallel to the bank. Always take a charged phone with you in a waterproof pouch. If you get into trouble float on your back and call for help.’

The lifesaving charity is appealing to people to share its safety advice with family and friends, particularly young people and teens, who accounted for the majority of the 12 drowning fatalities during the last heatwave.

If you see someone in trouble in the water dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

- Ends -

Notes to Editors:

· Teddington RNLI lifeboat station is one of five on the River Thames and is crewed and run entirely by volunteers

· The RNLI is a national charity solely funded by donations and legacies

· The RNLI is dedicated to saving lives at sea and on our rivers.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Grace Palmieri, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI South East, [email protected]

Jess Curtis, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for London and South East England, 07483 488243, [email protected]

Julie Rainey, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for London and South East England, 07827 358256, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.