The UK coastguard publishes 2020 SAR statistics

The findings are based on details of taskings recorded by the Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre.

The statistics show that between April and September 2020:

• There were 1,322 civilian SARH taskings
• Forty-eight per cent of taskings involved rescue or recovery
• Land- and coastal-based taskings accounted for 46 per cent and 43 per cent of all taskings respectively, with 11 per cent of taskings being maritime
• In 2020, 695 people were rescued
• Across all taskings, 169 people were assisted
• Thirty-three per cent (437) of taskings took place in beach/cliff areas, 14 per cent (187) in mountainous areas

There was a particular drop in taskings in April 2020 (64 taskings) compared to April 2019 (233 taskings). This captures the impact on SARH taskings of national lockdown in response to Covid-19.

Domestic holiday habits led to more taskings

However, there was an increase in taskings in August 2020 (365 taskings) compared to August 2019 (295 taskings), driven by an increase in beach-based taskings. This may be related to summer 2020 travel behaviour and preference for domestic holidays in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Recently, AirMed&Rescue reported that the coastguard is leading work with the Civil Aviation Authority to establish how drones could be used in the demanding environment of SAR.