Rise in rescue incidents - Ignore water safety at your peril

Incidents involving the 54 coastguard units around the country increased by 8.5% in 2007. The year began with the tragic loss of seven lives in the sinking of the fishing vessels Pere Charles and Honeydew II.

The coastguard rescued or assisted 3,488 people in difficulty during 2007. Most of those were involved in recreational activities, even though, weather-wise, last summer is not be remembered as one of our best.

Incidents involving fishing and merchant craft increased by less than 5%, while there were more than twice as many incidents involving pleasure craft. They increased by more than 18%.

The variety of incidents was a reflection of our growing affluence. There is a distinct rise in the number engaged in activities like surfing, jet-skiing and yachting. The number of incidents involving yachts and dinghies rose by 50% last year, while the coastguard reported a 31% rise in both surfing and canoeing incidents.

There was a 120% increase in the number of diving incidents and a 400% increase in cave rescues, while shoreline-angling incidents went up by 75%. At the same time, there were distinct decreases in the number of sail boarding, kite surfing, rowing and cliff-climbing incidents.

Some of the safety messages appear to be getting through, but with the approach of summer, society does need to be more conscious of the safety requirements of new equipment for water sports and leisure activities.