RNLI calls outs hit five-year high

Over 30 lives saved

Across the South West there has been a rise in people getting into difficulty in the water.

New RNLI  figures revealed the charity saved 36 lives in the last 12 months and is battling a rising tide of emergencies, with call-outs increasing by 14% in the last five years since 2020. 

Across 24 regional stations, teams launched their lifeboats 1,493 times in 2025, rescuing 975 people caught in life-threatening conditions.

The figures are a stark reminder of the dangers of the coastline as the region prepares for the busy summer season.

"Each year we see how quickly things can change on the water," said Tegan Flage, a volunteer crew member at Salcombe RNLI. "The new figures show just how demanding last year was. Every launch represents someone in urgent need, and our volunteers drop everything to help."

Kate Eardley, Head of International Global Drowning Prevention at the RNLI, says that the service is seeing everything from paddleboarders swept out by offshore winds to walkers cut off by the region's notoriously fast-moving tides.

"These latest statistics make it clear that our life-saving service remains as vital as ever," Eardley said. "Our crews are answering calls every day of the year."

Supporters are being asked to get behind their May Day appeal next month to raise vital funds -  you can choose to walk, jog, hop, or even skip every mile in May to keep their life-saving work going.

To find out more or make a donation, click here.