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New record for lifeboat rescues New record for lifeboat rescues
(about 10 hours later)
Scottish lifeboat crews rescued more than 1,000 people in 2006 making it their busiest year since records began. Scottish lifeboat crews rescued more than 1,000 people in 2006, making it their busiest year since records began.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institute said its volunteer crews responded to a wide range of incidents. The rise could be linked to an increase in people enjoying seaside-related activities, the RNLI said.
It believes there is no one reason for the increase in rescues, but it is linked to the fact that more people are enjoying activities on or by the sea. Volunteer crews in Scotland launched a total of 1,049 times and rescued 1,022 people last year, their figures show.
During 2006, lifeboat crews in Scotland launched 1,049 times and rescued 1,022 people. Oban lifeboat rescued more people than any other RNLI vessel, while the Broughty Ferry station, near Dundee, was the busiest.
The Oban lifeboat rescued more people than any other vessel in the RNLI fleet, bringing 109 people to safety. In most cases, crews were called to help sailing boats in trouble.
In most cases crews were called to help sailing boats in trouble. 'Hurricane' conditions
They also responded to: They also responded to more serious calls, including aircraft crashes, medical evacuations and rescuing people trapped by tides.
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  • fishing vessels in distress
The RNLI, which rescued 900 people in 2005, has urging members of the public to ensure they check weather conditions and make the right preparations before heading out on the water.
  • aircraft crashes
    		• According to the charity's annual figures, Oban's all-weather lifeboat rescued 109 people, while the two lifeboats at Broughty Ferry launched 79 times, helping to rescue 29 people.
  • medical evacuations
    		• RNLI divisional inspector for Scotland John Caldwell said: "Our volunteer crews responded, as always, 24 hours a day, last year in conditions that sometimes reached hurricane force 12."
  • and rescued people trapped by the tide
    		•  The busiest RNLI lifeboat station overall was Tower Pier on the River Thames, which launched 344 times and rescued 99 people.
    The charity is urging members of the public to ensure they check weather conditions and make the right preparations before heading out on the water.
    In 2005, the RNLI rescued 900 people.