Coastguards across the country were called to nearly 200 incidents over the weekend, to aid those who found themselves in difficulty in the sea or at the coast.
Coastguard Rescue Teams from around the UK were called out 194 times to incidents including inflatables drifting offshore, crashed and broken down jetskis and pleasure boats, people injured while out walking or cycling along the coast, paddleboarders, kayakers, windsurfers and kite surfers who found themselves in difficulty and people cut off by the tide or stuck in mud.
There were 84 callouts on Saturday (16th May) and a further 109 on Sunday (17th May), which proved to be the second busiest day of the year so far for the coastguard, as significant numbers of people took to the water and visited the coast.
In addition, 119 teams carried out proactive patrols of English beaches, cliffs and marinas to look out for anyone in trouble, offer safety advice where needed and ensure that people are staying safe in the water after the relaxing of some Government guidelines in the country.
The teams also assisted in providing mutual aid on 38 occasions in support of the other emergency services.
Coastguard Rescue Officers from Bembridge, Ventnor and The Needles have been involved in a number of shouts and patrols not only at the weekend but over the past few weeks too.
Boating, swimming and other sea-based activities are now allowed once again in England under Government guidelines. In Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales the lockdown remains and people should continue to follow the guidance to stay home.
Claire Hughes, director of HM Coastguard said:
“In England, now more than ever, people need to respect the sea and the coast. While people are now allowed to go out on and in the water, they need to make sure they are safe and protected and have a way to contact HM Coastguard if they get into difficulty.
“Regardless of how well you know the coast and of your ability in your chosen sport, the sea can still catch you out and can be unmerciful when it does.
“In addition, the Government guidelines around social distancing should continue to be observed by everyone in the UK.”
If you or someone else is in difficulty on the coast or at sea, or if you spot what you think may be unexploded ordnance, then dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard. Further safety information can be found at https://coastguardsafety.campaign.gov.uk/.
Get help faster by giving emergency services your exact location by using ///what3words.
what3words have divided the world into 3m squares and given each square a unique combination of three words, which means when you are in a remote area of the Isle of Wight you can get assistance much quicker without the need for local knowledge.
We must give a big THANK YOU for our coastguard teams you do a wonderful job so all of us should take extra care when out and about especially on the beaches, stay safe