2009 busiest ever for Scotland’s Lifeboats: support them

With our lifeboats having their busiest year on record (Argyll details below), the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) charity is having a major fundraising day this Friday (29th January) and is asking the public for energetic support.

In 2009, Scotland’s lifeboats launched a total of 1,121 times, an increase of 22% on the  2000 figure. It was a busy year for the whole of the charity across the UK and Ireland with RNLI lifeboat launches exceeding 9,000 for the first time in the charity’s 186-year history.

In Scotland Broughty Ferry was the busiest RNLI station,  launching its lifeboats 103 times and rescuing 44 people. South Queensferry was the busiest single RNLI lifeboat in Scotland launching 70 times and rescuing 118 people.

The year’s work was marked bya gallantry medal winning rescue; a floating caravan; and a baby being born onboard. This was the Oban lifeboat on 3rd August. It was their first baby boy – after 3 girls born onboard. He was born as the Lifeboat entered Oban Bay from Criagnure on Mull and he was called Van.

The more common reasons for the lifeboats being launched included stricken working and leisure boats, people cut off by the tide, in danger of drowning and missing individuals

The Argyll picture sees our lifeboats launched a total of 128 times, rescuing 136 people.  The breakdown is:

• Oban: launched 53 times and rescued 58 people
• Campbeltown: launched 23 times and rescued 34 people
• Tobermory: launched 25 times and rescued 26 people
• Tighnabruaich: launched 13 times and rescued 10 people
• Islay: launched 14 times and rescued 8 people

The photograph illustrating this article – published by permission of the copyright holder, RNLI – shows Campbeltown Lifeboat on 11th July 2009, evacuating a sick 59 year-old crew member from the Ro-Ro ferry, Atlantic Osprey.

Clyde Coastguard had requested the assistance of the lifeboat after being contacted by the ferry, which was 15 miles south of Campbeltown.

The lifeboat launched at 9/45am with the Lifeboat’s Medical Advisor on board, who transferred to the ferry along with two volunteer lifeboat crew, to assess the casualty.

The agreed decision was to evacuate the sick man to hospital in Campbeltown. We understand that the casualty had an arthritis flare up, causing swollen and painful joints.

Fundraising for RNLI

On Friday 29 January 2010, schools, workplaces, groups, and friends are encouraged to organise a fundraising event based on the SOS acronym. Events planned around Scotland include:

• Surf Off Scotland
• Sample Our Scones
• Shave Our Scalps
• Sell Our Secrets.

For SOS inspiration and downloadable support in staging your own RNLI SOS event, or to search for an SOS event to attend in your area, visit the SOS page on the RNLI website, where you can also donate online.

Alternatively text SOS to 84424 to donate to the RNLI (£3 will be deducted from your mobile phone bill and the exact amount received by the charity will vary according to the network).