Lifeboat launched 500 times

The following text is replicated here courtesy of the Gazette & Herald.

Published Date: Tuesday 7th February 2012

LIFEGUARDS dealt with almost 500 incidents off the coast of North and East Yorkshire last year, figures have revealed today.

The breakdown provided by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution showed boats were called out to help 330 times in Scarborough, Filey and Whitby during 2011, and on 154 occasions off Bridlington, Hornsea and Withernsea.

They helped 353 people off North Yorkshire’s coast and 158 off East Yorkshire. Overall figures for the north of England showed 1,237 people needed assistance from RNLI crews last year – a new record and three per cent above the previous highest figure, in 2003.

The north’s 33 lifeboat stations saw 1,270 launches, the second-highest in the RNLI’s history. Calls from powered pleasure craft accounted for 323 of the launches, with 174 being to sail-powered boats and 243 to people in the water, and 308 launches were made following breakdowns to vessels.

Andy Clift, RNLI divisional inspector for the north, said: “I’m sure these people and their friends and families will join me in thanking our volunteers for the dedication they demonstrate time and time again for saving lives at sea.”