As heatwave continues, 'paddlesafe' campaign aims to stop people getting into trouble on the water
The campaign offers a range of safety advice and tips for those new to paddleboarding - which remains the UK's fastest growing sport
With the current heatwave - and following a rise in RNLI rescues of paddleboarders - a 'Paddlesafe' campaign has been launched to try and stop people getting into difficulty on the water.
The RNLI say the numbers of getting into trouble has trebled in recent years - as the UK's fastest growing sport rises in popularity.
In August 2024, there were 40 lifeboat launches to kayakers or canoeists and 52 to paddleboarders - making it the busiest month ever for paddlesport incidents.
Across the same period, lifeguards dealt with 268 paddleboarding and kayak rescues across 240 lifeguarded beaches.
What does paddlesafe campaign advise?
Since 2023, Paddle UK has partnered with the RNLI to deliver the campaign which encourages people to follow safety advice when venturing onto the water, whether coastal or inland.
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.”
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 half 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.”
Last year, the campaign was launched just days after 15 people were rescued on paddleboards,
The basic five key messages that apply to all paddlers are:
Always wear a buoyancy aid
Tell someone where you’re going
Carry a mobile phone
Check the weather
Know your limits