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South Wales rescuers see casualty numbers rise by a quarter

the number of people rescued rise from 245 in 2008 to 311 in 2009. RNLI lifeguards who were introduced on beaches in Carmarthenshire and Swansea for the first time in 2009, had abusy first season with 321 incidents and 375 people assisted.

T

RNLI volunteers around the Welsh coastline

have seen arise in people rescued, with 1,191 launches and 1,218 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

he latest figures released by the RNLI charity have revealed the eight lifeboat stations between Penarth and Burry Port have seen

financial uncertainty.Holiday-makers were able to enjoy the South Wales coastline safe in the knowl- edge our lifeboats crews and lifeguards were at the ready should their services be required.

‘Aswestart anew 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.’

Once again, machinery failure has been the

main reason the services of volunteer RNLI crews have been called upon. Lifeboats in the West Divi- sion have launched to 272 incidents of this nature in 2009, a23% increase on last year’s figures. It is evident that more and more people are taking to the sea for recreation, with rescues to powered pleasure craft amounting to 331 of call-outs.

There are however precautions people can take

to help themselves and the RNLI has six top sea safety tips, remember ITS WET

INFORM -tell others where you’re going TRAINING -knowledge of activity is essential SOS Device -carry ameans of calling for help WEAR alifejacket -alife statement -not a

summer led to astark rise in rescues, 2009 was the second busiest in the West over the last 10 years. Penarth were the second busiest rescuers in Wales, bringing 85 people safely ashore in 2009 -compared with 44 in 2008. It was also abusy period for RNLI volunteers at Porthcawl where launches increased by nearly 40% and the number of people rescued rose from 26 in 2008 to 47 in 2009.. The Barry Dock all-weather RNLI lifeboat launched 18 times and 25 people were rescued.

Colin Williams, RNLI Inspector of Lifeboats for

the West Division says: ‘Throughout 2009 it is clear that the RNLI’s vol-

unteer lifeboat crews and our lifeguards have been working hard to provide aring of safety around the Welsh coast. It seems people flocked to the Welsh coast over the summer,perhaps choosing to holiday at home instead of abroad due to the

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fashion one -wear it.

ENGINE AND FUEL CHECK -have you sufficient

fuel and spares? TIDES AND WEATHER -check the conditions

before heading out. To find out more about the RNLI, please visit

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