Cardigan RNLI among busiest in Wales (From Tivyside Advertiser)

Cardigan RNLI among busiest in Wales

9:00am Tuesday 22nd January 2013 in News

RECENTLY released RNLI rescue statistics reveal the charity's local volunteers were in demand in 2012.

Cardigan was the third busiest RNLI lifeboat station in Wales during 2012 with the volunteer crew experiencing their busiest year since 2009.

The station's inshore lifeboats launched 53 times, a 43% increase on the previous year and the number of people they rescued trebled.

Fishguard's RNLI team spent the most hours at sea during the year as the lifeboat crew clocked up 492 hours in 2012.

Colin Williams, RNLI Regional Operations Manager for the West said: "While it would be easy to assume the wettest year on record would mean a quieter year for the RNLI, the services of our volunteers have never been more in demand.

"In fact, nearly half the lifeboat stations in Wales saw an increase in launches, meaning people are still visiting the coast and are venturing into or onto the sea whatever the weather."

As downpours brought misery across the country, people still flocked to the coast, meaning members of the RNLI's Flood Rescue Team, volunteer lifeboat crew and the charity's lifeguards were equally busy.

Despite Met Office reports that 2012 was the second wettest year for the UK since records began, the latest figures reveal that lifeboat crews across Wales spent 10,993 hours at sea in 2012.

Stuart Thompson, RNLI Lifeguard Manager said: "RNLI lifeguards were kept busy throughout the summer season as the public continued to visit the country's beaches - even in bad weather."

The charity's lifeguards are already training and preparing equipment ready for 2013 to deliver another successful safety service across the country's busiest beaches.