HELENSBURGH'S volunteer lifeboat crew have called for more compliance from the public as lockdown restrictions begin to be relaxed after attending four separate incidents at the weekend.
The RNLI team dealt with a sharp increase in callouts over the first weekend since measures were eased in Scotland, attending four incidents in four days having only been called out four times during the previous 10 weeks.
The hot and sunny weather invited more people out to coastlines and into the water but the RNLI say they are being put at risk by having to help others in spite of social distancing guidance.
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On Saturday afternoon, May 30, the Coastguard requested the launch of the inshore lifeboat based at Rhu Marina to assist a fishing vessel with mechanical failure; it was reported to have put an anchor down but was drifting towards the rocks.
The lifeboat towed the vessel to safety at East India Dock in Greenock before returning to its station.
The next day the Coastguard again requested the launch of the lifeboat, this time for a person in the water, but the shout was cancelled just after launch.
Later that evening, the crew were called out to a report of a fibreglass dinghy adrift with no-one on board; the lifeboat team secured the dinghy and towed it to Coronation Park in Port Glasgow where it was handed to the Coastguard for safekeeping.
The warm weather continued into the start of this week and early on Tuesday morning the Coastguard requested the assistance of the inshore lifeboat for a person in the water off the east of Helensburgh.
The RNLI crew took the casualty onboard the lifeboat and returned to the station where the casualty was transferred to an ambulance for treatment for minor injuries.
Howard Morrison, local operations manager of Helensburgh Lifeboat Station, said: “We understand that many people will have been missing trips to the coast and will be eager for a change of scene or activity.
"However, we are really asking the public for their help.
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"Our team of dedicated volunteers is always there to help but in order to attend a shout we must break physical distancing instructions, putting ourselves and our families at risk.
"Therefore, we are asking people to still stay local, don’t drive to visit the coast and if you are a local then please stay aware of the inherent risks."
Similar fears over the implications of volunteers having to carry out a rescue while not being able to observe social distancing guidelines were aired on this site last week by Iain Shonny Paterson from the Arrochar mountain rescue team.
An RNLI spokeman added: "The message from the RNLI in Scotland is clear; an easing of lockdown does not mean an instantly safer coast and water temperatures remain dangerously cold."
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