Deputy Launch Authority, Stephen Jones, commented, '2018 was our busiest year ever for shouts and there appeared no common reason for the high numbers of incidents. Even the hot summer weather alone could not be blamed.

Besides being on standby 24/7, for 365 days of the year our volunteer crews' train each Sunday morning and Wednesday evening to build and maintain the skills required to meet casualty needs.

Recently twelve crew attended an intensive three day First Aid and Casualty Care course held at Porthcawl; all twelve were successful and received the relevant RNLI certificates'.

Phil Missen MBE, Lifeboat Operation Manager said, 'As always we have worked with other emergency services on many of our launches and this teamwork is essential in helping those who find themselves in danger on our beaches or at sea.

As a busy station we are always having to review our personnel needs and I would encourage anyone interested and living in Porthcawl to view our website, www.porthcawl-lifeboat.co.uk for details of becoming a RNLI volunteer'.

Key facts about the RNLI

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 238 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 240 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.

The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 or by email.

The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland