VISITORS to the coast are being urged to stay safe – as the stepfather of one man who was rescued several years ago warned ‘the sea does not take any prisoners’.

The RNLI is today launching its Respect the Water campaign for the third year, and with an increase last year in the number of men losing their lives at sea, the charity is targeting this group in particular.

The charity’s website has lots of tips for staying safe at the beach and on the water, as well as a simulation where you play someone who is drowning and have five seconds to make a decision. Pick the wrong option and it’s game over.

Figures released today as part of the campaign reveal that 31 people lost their lives around the south west coast last year. The RNLI’s crews saved 134 lives in the region.

Between 2011 and 2014 men accounted for 71 per cent of coastal deaths but in 2015, this increased to 90 per cent.

Half the people who die at the coast each year never planned to enter the water, but instead were taking part in activities such as coastal walking, running, climbing or angling.

Liam Hughes was rescued in 2011 by coastguards after he was hit by a wave, pushing him onto rocks, while swimming near Portland Bill.

Liam’s stepfather, Jeff Peaple, said: “It is important to be aware of the dangers. I think people visit for the weekend, get in a boat and go off and they don’t know how quickly the mist could come down.

“A little bit of awareness goes a long way. The sea does not take prisoners.”

Phil Bindon’s son Mike was lost at sea in 2014, aged 23, after being swept in by an unexpected wave at Polzeath in Cornwall. He and his family have now spoken out to support the RNLI campaign.

“Two years later, Mike’s body has never been found. It breaks my heart. No one expects to lose a child. An accident like this is a tragedy that I wouldn’t want anyone else to go through. I want people to learn from Mike’s death and understand how dangerously unpredictable the sea can be. 
Accidents like this can happen to anyone.”

James Millidge, RNLI community incident reduction manager for the south west, said: “People need to treat the water with respect – it’s powerful and unpredictable. Each year RNLI lifeboat crews and lifeguards save hundreds of lives. 

“Cold water is a real killer. People often don’t realise how cold our seas can be – even in summer months the sea temperature is low enough to trigger cold water shock.”