VOLUNTEER lifesavers have been praised after a ‘challenging but successful year’ which saw the number of call-outs increase dramatically.

As of Sunday this week, Lyme Regis Lifeboat had responded to 46 emergencies in 2020. This compares with 30 call-outs for the whole of 2019.

Lifeboat Operations Manager Nick Marks said 2020 had started well but became increasingly challenging as Covid-19 established itself and threatened to interrupt the 24/7 lifeboat service proudly delivered by the RNLI since 1824.

Lyme Regis Lifeboat Station went into ‘lockdown’ early in the crisis - the station was closed to visitors, strict safety measures were put in place, and training - both ashore and at sea was suspended. These measures were needed to protect the crew and boat as much as possible.

Mr Marks added: ”With the arrival of summer the crew became very busy answering an unprecedented number of shouts as the south coast filled with visitors.”

Jobs involved rescuing swimmers, walkers, kayakers, power boat users, and also calls to help people blown out to sea on inflatables - something the RNLI constantly warns about.

Mr Marks said: “We managed to meet our aim of maintaining an effective life-saving service throughout year. No calls for help were missed through non-availability of our lifeboat or crew members in the most difficult of circumstances.”

He said an additional casualty of Covid was the ability to recruit new crew members.

Recruiting will start again when the pandemic is over. Seagoing crew, either male or female, should work or live within ten minutes of the lifeboat station, be between 17 and 50 years old and be prepared to commit to a rigorous training programme.