The RNLI in the South West has released its annual rescue figures which show that, despite much of the year spent under lockdown restrictions, the regions volunteer lifeboat crews were as busy as ever and launched on average four times a day.

The latest annual statistics for 2020 show the RNLI’s volunteer crews at the 33 lifeboat stations in the South West launched more than 1,200 times, helped 1,225 people and saved 30 lives, up on the 29 lives saved in 2019.

During the summer, RNLI lifeguards on beaches across the region attended more than 6,200 incidents and helped 9,179 people and saved 56 lives.

Exmouth RNLI crew members launched their all-weather lifeboat 26 times and inshore lifeboat on 53 occasions, coming to the aid of 51 individuals and saving three lives, while spending a total of 491 hours in their quest to save lives at sea.

This year with more people expected be holidaying close to home, the RNLI predicts another busy summer.

The lifesaving charity is calling for people to support its Mayday campaign to raise funds to ensure volunteer crews can continue to save lives at sea.

The RNLI’s Mayday campaign launches on Saturday (May 1) and runs throughout the month.

Lifesavers in the south west are calling on supporters to join the Mayday Mile and cover at least one mile in any way they chose and raise vital funds to keep people safe on our coastline.

In Exmouth, crew members Geoff and Dougie have nearly reached their £2k target to complete a relay of no less than 72 kilometres, representing one kilometre for every lifesaving emergency Exmouth RNLI were tasked to attend in 2020.

Tom Mansell, RNLI Lifesaving Lead for the South West said: ”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.’

Find out more about Exmouth crew members Geoff and Dougie’s challenge, visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/72for72