The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has released its rescue figures for 2020, which show a total of 349 lives saved by the charity’s lifeboat crews and lifeguards last year – almost one life saved every single day.
And during the busy summer months alone, RNLI lifeboat crews saved 140 lives – an increase of 32% on the previous year – as people flocked to the coast in the UK and Ireland. Summer 2020 saw an average of 42 lifeboat launches per day, almost double the average of 23 launches per day seen for the rest of the year.
The charity is now putting out its own Mayday call as it faces yet another busy summer. With high numbers expected to take to the water as more people choose to holiday closer to home, more funds are needed to ensure the lifesaving service is able to keep everyone safe.
RNLI National Water Safety Education Partner, Sam Johnson, said: ‘We all saw the images of packed beaches around the coast as restrictions lifted last summer, which meant a hugely busy season for the RNLI. As another summer approaches, we know that our lifesavers face more huge challenges in keeping everyone safe, which is why we’re now the ones sending out our own Mayday call and asking for help.
‘Our annual Mayday fundraising campaign is our call for your support to help keep you and your family safe at the coast this summer.’
Launching on Saturday 1 May, the RNLI’s annual Mayday campaign asks people to sign up to support lifesavers around the UK and Ireland. This year, the charity will be calling on supporters to join The Mayday Mile, and cover at least one mile in any way they like in order to raise vital funds.
Sam Johnson added: ‘Our lifesavers drop everything to run to the lifeboat station when the call comes, so we’re asking our supporters to put themselves in the crew’s boots and join The Mayday Mile. Every penny raised during Mayday will go towards ensuring we are ready to save even more lives this year.’
To sign up for The Mayday Mile, or to make a donation in support of the RNLI’s lifesavers, visitRNLI.org/supportMayday
*Summer refers to the period of 1st June – 31st August 2020
