Lifeboat crews report busy period

Parts of Wales were "exceptionally busy" for the RNLI

Latest figures from the RNLI show it has been one of the busiest years so far for Welsh volunteer lifeboat crews.

In the first half of 2008, 31 stations launched almost 500 crews and rescued 504 people, up 100 from last year.

Rhyl was Wales' busiest station with 56 launches between June and August while crews on Anglesey had an "exceptionally busy" six months.

With more people enjoying the sea, demands increase, while machinery failure was the biggest call-out cause.

The statistics released by the charity show that lifeboats in its west division, which also includes the Isle of Man, launched 539 times during June, July and August.

May 2008 was the busiest month on record for the charity's volunteer crews who were called to help 177 times.

Our crews are ready 24/7 to respond to emergency situation and as launch figures rise, so does the level of their commitment Colin Williams, RNLI

There was most pressure in the north of the country with Rhyl, Denbighshire, the busiest station and the RNLI crew at Abersoch, Gwynedd rescuing more people than anywhere else in Wales.

Trearddur Bay on Anglesey say the number of people rescued increased five fold, while Moelfre on the island saw casualty figures more than treble.

In south Wales, meanwhile, Barry Dock was the busiest all weather RNLI lifeboat station in Wales during the first half of 2008, while the Mumbles crew near Swansea rescued the highest number of people - 24.

The number of people rescued in Anglesey and Gwynedd between January and June 2008

Colin Williams, RNLI divisional inspector for Wales, said: "For this specific six month period, machinery failure was the biggest single cause of lifeboat call-outs, with launches increasing from 73 to 92 and resulting in an extra 49 people being rescued compared to last year.

"With more people than ever using the sea for recreation, the demands on the RNLI's volunteer crews is increasing all the time."

Mr Williams added:"Our crews are ready 24/7 to respond to emergency situation and as launch figures rise, so does the level of their commitment.

The charity said the "notable rise in rescue activity" places increased significance on the RNLI's countdown to SOS Day 2009 - its biggest annual fundraising day.

The organisation is encouraging people to hold their own SOS themed event on 30 January next year to help raise £1m to train and equip its crews and continue to save lives at sea.

"As a charity we need to continuously fundraise to ensure our crews are at the peak of their skills and provide them with the very best training and equipment to do their jobs in the safest possible way," Mr Williams said.