The latest figures released by the RNLI charity reveal the number of people being rescued around the Welsh coastline continues to rise, with 1,147 launches and 1,160 people brought to safety in the West Division during 2009. Since 2000, lifeboat launches in the West have increased by a massive 30%, with 2009 sailing in to the record books as one of the busiest in RNLI history.
With the exception of 2006, when the long hot summer led to a stark rise in rescues, 2009 was the second busiest in the last 10 years. The rising demand on its service has now prompted the charity to urge the people of Wales to support its biggest day of fundraising on Friday 29 January.
Beaumaris was the busiest RNLI lifeboat station in Wales with 93 people rescued – the most casualties brought ashore since 2001. Call-outs for the Anglesey lifeboat station, rose from 63 in 2008 to 74 launches in 2009.
A giant bottle carrying a plea for help from the charity arrived at Beaumaris on Sunday as part of a nationwide mystery tour to remind people about the charity’s biggest annual fundraising day. The message in a bottle is touring the UK and Ireland to boost support for RNLI SOS Day on Friday 29th January.
RNLI volunteers at Penarth were the second busiest rescuers in Wales bringing 85 people to safety during the year, followed by Moelfre where 76 people were rescued. In terms of lifeboat launches, Rhyl was the second busiest of the 31 RNLI lifeboat stations in Wales with 70 launches, followed by Tenby with 67 launches.
Colin Williams, RNLI Inspector of Lifeboats for the West Division says:
‘As we start a new decade, the figures for the last 10 years show lifeboats in the West have launched nearly 10,463 times and rescued 10,266 people. These ten-year statistics indicate that an increase in popularity for coastal recreation is a major reason for the increase in RNLI call-outs. Our volunteers have certainly had a busy 2009, which may in part be due to people holidaying at home instead of planning holidays abroad during last year’s financial uncertainty.’
Once again, machinery failure has been the main reason the services of our volunteer RNLI crews have been called upon. Lifeboats in the West Division have launched to 272 incidents of this nature in 2009, a 23% increase on last year’s figures. It is evident that more and more people are taking to the sea for recreation, with rescues of powered pleasure craft amounting to 331 of call-outs.
It was also an exceptionally busy year for RNLI lifeguards who operate on 27 beaches in South and West Wales. During 2009, RNLI lifeguards in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Swansea responded to 1,198 incidents and aided 1,410 people. In Pembrokeshire, where the service has been operating since 2008, the number of people aided has increased by a massive 47% from 561 people aided in 2008 to 823 in 2009.
Across the UK and Ireland, the number of annual lifeboat launches has exceeded 9,000 for the first time in the RNLI’s 186-year history. Nationally, volunteer lifeboat crews launched a total of 9,154 times in 2009, rescuing 8,186 people. The charity’s lifeguards also had their busiest year, responding to 13,588 incidents and assisting 15,954 people – the highest number since the service began in 2000.
The RNLI’s rescue service is not confined to the beach or open sea. During the November floods in Cumbria the RNLI’s Flood Rescue Team, including 17 volunteer Swift Water Technicians from North Wales helped hundreds of Cockermouth’s residents reach safety.
This clearly demonstrates the RNLI charity can touch the lives of anyone at any time, whether at the coast or even in their own homes if the worst happens during a flood emergency. The RNLI, a charity that is independent of Government and reliant on donations, is calling on the public to respond to its own call for help by supporting RNLI SOS Day this week on Friday 29 January.
Wendy Reason, RNLI Fundraising and Communications Manager for the West says:
‘In a year when many families and companies are experiencing hardship we have been astounded by the response from supporters to our national fundraising day. Across Wales people have been busy organising SOS themed events, which will take place on Friday. From Sip Our Soup lunches to a See Our Snowdrops open garden event, we are so grateful to everyone who is supporting our volunteer crews and lifeguards.
‘There is still time people to get involved in one of the events or organise one of their own – there’s plenty of help and ideas at www.rnli.org.uk/sos. To take part in RNLI SOS Day and for inspiring fundraising ideas or to simply make a donation log on to www.rnli.org.uk/sos or call 0845 121 4999.
