Maritime and Coastguard Agency
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MCA urge recreational sea anglers to wear a lifejacket
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
