The Ardrossan Coastguard Rescue Team is sending out a safety reminder to the public after record-breaking callouts for the team in the past week.

Over the course of the weekend, the team has responded to a number of emergency incidents throughout Ayrshire including concern for a person on the rocks near Saltcoats, broken down vessels, persons in the water and multiple incidents involving inflatables.

The team’s busiest month on record is August 2020 when the team responded to a total of 28 callouts throughout the month. As we went to print on Wednesday, the team had responded to 27 callouts for July.

Fortunately throughout this exceptionally busy spell, all of the incidents attended have had positive outcomes although the team are aware there’s been a number of water-related tragedies around the country, including two adults and a child dying at Loch Lomond over the weekend.

Now the Ardrossan Coastguard Rescue Team are reminding people to remain vigilant, to keep themselves and others safe.

Station officer of Ardrossan Coastguard Rescue Team, Kevin Paterson said: “As a team we have just underwent out busiest period on record, attending no more than 20 separate incidents in a period of just over four days.

“I want to take this opportunity to provide some key safety messages and safety advice so your trip to the coast is one to remember for all the right reasons.

“Nearly half the callouts attended over the last four days by the team involved an inflatable in some shape or form.

“If you use these at the coast, you are putting yourself at unnecessary risk and also putting others at risk who may have to come and rescue you.

“Unicorns, lilos, all these things are designed for swimming pools and not for the sea, so please just leave them at home. If you get into difficulty in water or you unexpectedly fall into water, three simple words could save your life- float to live.

“Fight your instincts to thrash about and shout for help, and just lie on your back and float, just for a minute or so and that way you will get your breath back.

“You will compose yourself and you’ll be in a much better position to either self-rescue by swimming to safety, or by shouting for help and raising the alarm.

“It’s so important that people know who to call in an emergency.

“If you see someone in difficulty in water inland, be it a river, a lake or reservoir, dial 999 and ask for Fire and Rescue.

“If you’re at the coast or at the beach and you see someone at risk or in difficulty, dial 999 and ask for the coastguard, this will instigate an emergency response of coastguard rescue teams RNLI lifeboats and also potentially the coastguard rescue helicopter.”