#PaddleSafe with Paddle UK and the RNLI this summer
Paddle UK and the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) are urging paddlers to follow the PaddleSafe messages this summer.
Since 2023, Paddle UK has partnered with the RNLI to deliver this public awareness campaign. The campaign encourages people to follow safety advice when venturing onto the water, whether coastal or inland.
In August 2024, there were 40 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.
‘I’m not going to get out of this’
Mark Parker, a retired company director from Anglesey, 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.
The current, tide and wind, combined to sweep him out to sea.
“I just started to think ‘I'm not going to get out of this' but I knew the RNLI would come out for me,” said Mark.
“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 know this would give the lifeboat volunteers the best chance of spotting me.”
Mark has been encouraging people to follow the RNLI and Paddle UK’s safety advice.
Paddle UK has committed to investing in robust research to underpin safety guidance and inform training and assessments within paddlesport.
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.”
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
Previously, the campaign has included an annual safety conference attended by a wide range of paddlesport organisations, manufacturers and retailers.
There is further information on types of leash to use for stand up paddleboarding, some of the potential dangers of being on the water and how to avoid them, including flowing water, offshore winds and weirs.
The campaign information and advice can be found on the Go Paddling website.
The course includes topics of key equipment, safety precautions and environmental factors, which are essential for all beginners to know.
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