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Summer was a long, hot one for lifeguards
RNLI lifeguards dealt with almost 200 incidents in their first summer patrolling the beaches of South Tyneside and Sunderland, according to new figures.
Lifeboat crews in the area were also among the busiest in the region, in what was the second-busiest summer on record for the life-saving charity.
Crews in the RNLI northern region (which stretches from the Borders to Scarbrough, in Yorkshire) launched 620 times in June, July and August.
That was an 18 per cent increase on last summer, when there were 522 rescue launches.
Only the long, hot summer of 2003 was busier, with 632 launches.
Sunderland RNLI, which covers South Tyneside, was the third-busiest station in the region, with 44 launches, while RNLI lifeguards in Tyne and Wear recorded 193 incidents across three beaches.
Andy Clift, RNLI divisional inspector of lifeboats for the north, said: "In the past, rescues have generally risen during hot summers, when more people travel to the coast and use the sea for leisure activities.
"However, we think the trend for holidaying at home may have had an impact this summer, because even though the weather has not been particularly good, beaches have been busy – and so have some of our volunteer lifeboat crews.
"The incidents they deal with range from rescuing exhausted surfers and children on inflatables to helping fishermen and yachtsman in difficulties at sea."
The RNLI took on responsibility for lifeguarding from several local authorities this year, including South Tyneside and Sunderland.
It also backed a campaign, launched by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, to raise awareness of the dangers of the cliff-jumping craze known as 'tombstoning', after the death of 17-year-old Jamie Sutton, of Whitburn, in May.
Matt Horton, RNLI divisional inspector of lifeguards, said: "Despite the poor weather, we have had a busy season.
"We are very pleased with the service we have been able to provide, and the way that our lifeguards have operated."
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Weather for South Shields
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -3 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -2 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South
