Last year, RNLI lifeboats rescued 8,313 people around our coasts (the highest number in our history), while RNLI lifeguards assisted 18,775 on more than 150 of the UK’s busiest beaches. That’s 27,088 people who are grateful for your support.

Our lifeboats launched 8,713 times in 2010, spending a total of 10,758 hours (448 days) at sea. Over a third of those launches (37%) were in the hours of darkness.

Tower Lifeboat Station in London was, once again, our busiest, launching 491 times and rescuing 113 people. Beaumaris lifeboat crew (Anglesey) were the busiest in Wales, with 83 launches and 57 people rescued. In Scotland, Queensferry, near Edinburgh, had the most launches (74) and rescued the most people (138). The busiest station in Ireland was Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, which launched 64 times, rescuing 82 people.

RNLI Operations Director Michael Vlasto says: ‘Around our coastline, our lifeboat volunteers and lifeguards have once again demonstrated their priceless commitment to saving lives at sea. But that is only part of the story; every one of the rescues carried out by the RNLI in 2010 was only made possible due to the incredible generosity of the public, even in these difficult times. I would like to say thank you to all those who support us. It’s a team effort and, as a charity, we couldn’t do it without them.’