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Swilly lifeboat station
"fifth busiest"
29.09.09
THE Lough Swilly
lifeboat received 15 emergency call-outs this summer
making it the fifth busiest in the country in June,
July and August.
Preliminary figures show that the RNLI's charity’s
lifeboats had one of their busiest summer holiday
seasons (424 launches nationwide) with a 12%
increase in launches compared to the same time last
year.
The busiest Irish lifeboat station was Dun Laoghaire,
launching 25 times during the summer, followed by
Aran Islands and Aranmore Island - both with 20
recorded launches. This was followed by Howth
Lifeboat with 18 launches and Crosshaven and Lough
Swilly lifeboat stations, each with 15 calls for
assistance.
RNLI training divisional inspector Owen Medland the
summer increase showed a strong need for continued
sea safety messages to all water users and a high
demand for lifeboat volunteers all year round. |
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"The busiest lifeboat
crews this summer were from all around Ireland and
included popular tourist destinations. We never know
when the next call for assistance will come from but
we do know that our lifeboat crews will be ready."
Operations director, Michael Vlasto, added: "We have
seen an increase in demand for our services this
summer. This may be due to the many more |
people who holidayed at home this year. There is a
greater range of water-based activities and access
to relatively cheap or pre-owned equipment, so more
people are now using the sea for leisure. While the
majority enjoy their watersports without getting
into trouble, some end up needing the help of the
RNLI’s lifeboat volunteers, so it’s really important
that this group of sea users supports us.’
As a charity, the RNLI relies totally on the
generosity of the public to fund its services. It
costs €1,530 per year to train a crew member. The
RNLI offers free all-year-round safety advice for
sea users and beach visitors at
www.rnli.ie . |
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