RNLI sees fall in rescue calls

The Royal National Lifeboat Institute believes bad summer weather has led to the reduction in calls to its rescue service.

Nevertheless the RNLI warned bad preparation is still leading to danger situations in the seas.

Figures for June, July and August have shown that its lifeboats launched 397 times. This was a fall on last year’s number.

The busiest station in Ireland was Crosshaven in Co Cork, responding to 23 calls.

RNLI Sea Safety Co-ordinator Kevin Rahill said: “We are still finding that a lot of leisure boats are getting into difficulty primarily due to a lack of preparation and not carrying the right kind of equipment and extra fuel.”