Statistics on civilian search and rescue helicopter (SARH) activity in the United Kingdom, based on details of taskings recorded by the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC).

During April to September 2021:

• there were 1,643 civilian SARH taskings
• Prestwick base was the busiest of the 10 bases, responding to 268 taskings
• 54 per cent of taskings involved rescue or recovery
• land and coastal based taskings accounted for 47 per cent and 38 per cent of all taskings respectively, with 15 per cent of taskings being maritime
• there were 966 people rescued and 212 people assisted across all taskings *July and August were the months with the highest number of taskings, 355 and 346 respectively, consistent with the usual seasonal trend
• A total of 438 (27 per cent) taskings took place in beach/cliff areas, 352 (21 per cent) in mountainous areas, 209 (13 per cent) tasked to vessels in distress, and 644 (39 per cent) recorded as other.

The total number of taskings in July 2021 (355 taskings) increased compared to pre-pandemic levels (258 taskings in July 2019). This increase compared to 2019 could also be seen in June, August and September 2021. This was driven by an increase in taskings in coastal and mountain areas. This may be related to summer 2021 travel behaviour and preference for domestic holidays in response to the coronavirus pandemic.