Through the night
Lifeboats launched 1,648 times, Lieguards respond to 10,253 incidents.
Figures released by the RNLI show that 2009 was the busiest year on record for the charity's volunteer lifeboat crews and lifeguards in the south west.
With SOS Day, the RNLI's biggest fundraising day on Friday 29 January, the charity is calling on people to get involved and help raise vital funds to support its lifesaving work.
The RNLI's 35 lifeboat stations in the south west launched a total of 1,648 times during 2009, rescuing 1,687 people. RNLI lifeguards patrolling over 90 beaches across Cornwall, Devon and Dorset dealt with 10,253 incidents and assisted 12,357 people on the beach - the highest number since the service began in 2001.
The busiest lifeboat station in Cornwall was Falmouth where the inshore and all-weather lifeboat crews put to sea for 102 emergencies.
Adrian Carey is the RNLI Divisional Inspector:
'The rising number of incidents in the south west illustrates the demands being put on our volunteer lifeboat crews, especially during the summer season. With people choosing to holiday at home during this recession our inshore lifeboats in particular, have got increasingly busy. But this means added cost to our charity and if economic trends continue, we are in for another busy year in 2010 so will need yet more financial help. SOS day gives people an excuse to have some fun by organising an event of their choice with the added benefit of supporting the RNLI.
It's worth noting that half of all our launches last year were to sailing vessels and leisure motor boats. It's for this reason that the RNLI's volunteer sea safety team work with boat owners to promote simple ideas to help avoid incidents. I would urge people to seek their advice and avoid becoming one of our statistics.'
The busiest individual beach for RNLI lifeguards was Perranporth where they dealt with 608 incidents.
Steve Instance, RNLI Divisional Lifeguard Inspector for the south west explains how despite the poor summer weather, some sun at the beginning meant there were plenty of people on the beach - some needed our help:
'People's memories only go so far back, but we actually enjoyed some lovely weather at the beginning of the summer. In May and June there was lots of sunshine combined with some good surf, which meant the beaches were extremely busy for the RNLI lifeguards.'
'Despite the poor weather in July and August, plenty of families choose the south west for their staycation so when we had a pocket of good weather, people were flocking to the beach, eager to enjoy themselves and this is when high levels of incidents can occur.'
'This was particularly notable during the first week of August when a spell of warm weather combined with spring tides and some big surf created tricky condition. Over just one day of this week, the RNLI lifeguards assisted 222 people and saved 9 lives in a number of mass rescues. It was their busiest day on record.'
This week the charity is calling on the public to respond to its own call for help by supporting RNLI SOS Day on Friday 29 January. Adrian Carey, the RNLI Divisional Inspector for the south west says by raising funds the public will be helping the RNLI go on saving lives in what the charity predicts will be the most difficult year since the current economic downturn began:
