The RNLI and Paddle UK are urging those hitting the water on paddleboards, kayaks or canoes to follow safety advice as rescue data reveals that lifeboat crews in the UK & Ireland were called out to paddlers an average of almost three times* a day in August 2024.
Last August, there were 40 RNLI lifeboat launches to kayakers or canoeists and 52 to paddleboarders, making it the busiest month for paddlesport incidents. Across the same period, lifeguards dealt with 268 paddleboarding and kayak rescues across 240 lifeguarded beaches.
In 2024, volunteer lifeboat crews launched to a total of 134 paddleboarding and 167 kayak/canoe incidents while RNLI lifeguards dealt with 413 paddleboarding and 127 kayaking incidents. Paddleboarding has seen a significant increase in popularity over recent years and 2022 was a record year for the lifesaving charity with 174 lifeboat launches and 640 incidents for RNLI lifeguards.
All too familiar with the dangers of paddleboarding is Mark Parker, a retired Company Director from Anglesey who was rescued by Moelfre RNLI volunteers in July 2023. Mark went paddleboarding with his daughter off Benllech, Anglesey when he got into difficulty and was unable to make it back to shore.
He said: ‘The current, tide and wind were all taking me out to sea and I was trying to paddle back to shore but I was just going backwards – it was exhausting. I could see the waves getting bigger further out at sea and for a short time, I just started to think ‘I’m not going to get out of this’ but I knew the RNLI would come out for me.’
Mark’s wife was ashore when she spotted he was in trouble and called 999 to ask for the coastguard.
‘I was waving the paddle in the air to make sure people could see me and I soon saw the lifeboat coming towards me. I was a bit shaken up but so relieved to see them, I knew I was safe. My focus in that situation was to stay calm, stay positive and stay on the paddleboard as I knew this would give the lifeboat volunteers the best chance of spotting me. I just think to myself, if they weren’t there, what would have happened to me? They saved my life.
‘Paddleboarding is great until it’s not. People don’t realise the risk, so I really encourage people to follow the RNLI’s safety advice. I was so glad I was wearing a buoyancy aid and wetsuit, and I’ve now bought a waterproof phone pouch. If you’re going paddleboarding or kayaking, make sure you take these essentials with you.’
Following his rescue, Mark felt inspired and is now a volunteer steward and water safety advisor at Moelfre RNLI Lifeboat Station.
In 2023, 10% of kayakers/canoeists and 9% of paddleboarders2 reported that they made none of the recommended preparations before hitting the water. The RNLI and Paddle UK are urging people to make safety a priority as we approach the summer months through their #PaddleSafe campaign.
Together, their key safety advice is to:
- Always wear a buoyancy aid
- Tell someone where you’re going
- Carry a mobile phone
- Check the weather
- Know your limits
RNLI National Water Safety Partner, Sam Hughes, said: ‘It’s been really great to see so many people enjoy our coastlines on paddleboards and kayaks in recent years but it’s really important that people know how to keep themselves safe. In the past two years, we have seen that around half3 of paddleboarding incidents were due to people being swept out to sea or caught out by offshore winds, with strong rip currents also posing a risk to paddlers, which is what happened to Mark. We urge anyone taking part in paddlesports to check the weather forecast, including the gust and direction of the wind, before heading out. If you are on a lifeguarded beach, keep an eye out for the orange windsock to see which way the wind is blowing.’
Lee Pooley, Director of Recreation and Development at Paddle UK said: ‘There is nothing better than being out on the water on a warm summer’s day, but we urge everyone heading out to take the necessary precautions. We continue to work with key partners such as the RNLI as well as the wider paddling industry and retailers to promote the most up to date safety guidance. There is a wealth of information on the Paddle UK websites and those who need to understand the basics can do so through our free online learning. Being on the water should be a really wonderful experience and we want everyone to enjoy it safely.’
Find information on how to stay safe while taking part in paddlesports here: rnli.org/safety/choose-your-activity
- *In August 2024, RNLI lifeboats launched to 40 kayaking/canoeing and 52 paddleboarding incidents, resulting in an average of 2.96 lifeboat callouts per day.
- 2. Data is from the 2023 Watersports Participation survey. Recommended preparations included checking the weather and tides, checking craft for sea worthiness, telling someone where you’re going and wearing specialist clothing.
- 3. In 2023, there were 155 lifeboat launches to paddleboarders and 76 (49%) were due to casualties being blown out to sea or offshore winds. Last year, there were 134 launches to paddleboarders and 73 (54%) were due to being blown out to sea or offshore winds.
