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%.