MARITIME AND
COASTGUARD AGENCY News Release (51/09) issued by COI News
Distribution Service. 23 March 2009
Fewer than 2.5% of
shore anglers wear lifejackets when fishing according to research
carried out by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency. The agency is
advising all anglers, whether they practice their sport from the
sea, on rocks or shore, to carry and wear a lifejacket when near
the sea.
Richard Jackson, Evidence Coordinator of the Research &
Planning Team at the Agency said:
"Deaths from angling dropped to five last year from 11 in
2007. In gaining those figures, our research showed some gaps in
individuals' awareness of how vital a lifejacket can be in
those few short seconds when, through a slip or accident, an
angler can find themselves in the sea.
"Cold shock and hypothermia are the real killers, and if you
are not wearing a lifejacket when you go into the water the
chances of your survival are diminished. When things go wrong at
sea there's seldom, if ever, time to get out a lifejacket and
put it on properly."
Details of the five deaths:
January, 2008. Holyhead: A man packed a dinghy full of fishing
equipment and pushed it out, walking into the water to follow it
and board the vessel, but stopped dead in the water, went under
the surface and drowned. The assumption is that he suffered cold
water shock and became unconscious - if he was wearing a
lifejacket it may have kept him afloat long enough to receive
medical attention.
July - Belfast. A man was in the water after cockle picking on
Scotchman Rock when his punt broke away. The man tried to recover
it and was declared deceased later at hospital. No lifejacket worn.
July - Sound of Islay. A male angler in his 70s was swept off by
the current. His waders filled with water and dragged him under.
No lifejacket worn.
September - Polzeath. A 32 year old male angler was swept off the
rocks into the sea, possibly while trying to recover some fishing
gear. No lifejacket evident.
December - Aberdeen. A Polish rock fisherman was swept away by
large wave. No lifejacket worn.
Lifejackets are as essential to recreational sea anglers as rods
and reels, according to Stuart McPherson, chairman of the Angling
Trust marine committee.
"We urge every angler to always wear the slim fitting type
which instantly inflates if the wearer falls in. It does not get
in the way while fishing but tucked away in a cabin or locked in
the car boot it is useless.
"Lifejackets are just as important for shore angling.
Recently in the north east of England anglers on a breakwater were
washed off their feet by a freak wave. Only the quick reaction of
one saved another from slipping into the water. Had his reactions
been less speedy a lifejacket would have come into its own."
Notes To Editors
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is working with the RNLI,
Royal Yachting Association and the Angling Trust to encourage more
sea users to wear a lifejacket whilst afloat. Lifejackets save
lives and are useless unless worn.
For facts and figures on lifejackets please visit http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/lifejackets.
For
advice on lifejacket sizes and uses visit http://www.nationalwatersafety.org.uk/seasafety/documents/SAGLJPFD_APRIL07.pdf
and for general advice and information on lifejackets and how to
fit and maintain them, visit http://www.rnli.org.uk and go to
the lifejacket campaign in the sea safety section.
For further information please contact
Maritime and
Coastguard Agency Press Office, on: (023) 8032 9401
Press releases and further information about the Agency is
available on the Web at http://www.mcga.gov.uk