SAVING the lives of Devon’s growing army of paddleboarders was highlighted by the RNLI team at Devon County Show.
Members of the Devon branch of the emergency service were at the show to raise awareness of their latest campaign.
A member of the team said: ‘In recent years, stand-up paddleboarding has increased in popularity as an accessible and enjoyable activity for many, particularly since 2020.The RNLI’s lifesaving figures show:
Over the past five years, RNLI lifeboat volunteers have helped save the lives of 77 stand up paddleboarders, with 32 lives saved last year.
In 2022, RNLI lifeguards saw a staggering 155% rise in paddleboarding incidents compared with 2021 while volunteer lifeboat crews saw an increase of 20%.
In 2018, the charity’s lifeguards responded to 247 paddleboarding incidents compared to 1,290 last year, a 422% increase over the past five years.
The RNLI has teamed up with 12 expert training agencies and National Governing Bodies (NGBs) across the UK and Ireland to develop and promote four key safety messages for paddleboarders. The group are encouraging those heading out on the water to:
Wear a buoyancy aid
Carry a phone in a waterproof pouch
Wear the correct leash
Avoid offshore winds
Samantha Hughes, RNLI Water Safety Partner, said: ‘The best way to enhance your time on the water is to have a stand-up paddleboard lesson.
‘You will learn useful techniques including tips to help you get back on the board. You’ll also develop your skills and knowledge of how to understand the environment such as wind and tidal information. This will set you up for future paddling.
‘We’ve seen a huge rise in incidents to paddleboarders over the last few years and a significant number are to people who have been blown or swept out to sea. If you find yourself in difficulty at the coast, please call 999 and ask for the coastguard.’