RNLI says callouts increased by 30% in summer of 2020
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution says its lifesaving callouts increased by 30% during the summer of 2020, saying more people headed for usually quiet areas.
Britain’s RNLI says it experienced a sharp rise in callouts last summer, with an average of 42 launches a day. The institution saved 140 lives as crowds headed to the seaside after the end of the UK’s first lockdown.
Water safety experts say the increase was due to large numbers of people getting into difficulty while using standup paddleboards and because of unusually large numbers of people frequenting less traditionally popular areas.
Overall, the RNLI said it launched 8,239 lifeboats in 2020, and the total number of lives saved was 349. The charity says it expects 2021 to be its busiest year yet, as uncertainty over travel conditions means many will choose to vacation in the UK.
The RNLI’s key message to water users is to head to one of the more than 240 beaches patrolled by RNLI lifeguards.
