Summer rescue base to support outdoor call-outs
Darron WatsonA new helicopter base has opened to boost search and rescue operations in an outdoor activity hotspot.
HM Coastguard has opened its seasonal base at Carlisle's Lake District airport to help tackle increased demand during the summer months.
The organisation said its AugustaWestland AW189 rescue helicopter could be airborne within 15 minutes of being tasked and would operate from 09:00 BST to 21:00 until September.
It said historical data was used to identify "areas of peak demand" driven "primarily by accidents during outdoor leisure activities".
The launch is part of a £1.6bn modernisation programme, which also saw the opening of a temporary base in Oban, Scotland, last month.
Senior responsible owner for the programme, Mark Bradley, said: "[The system] looks at the seasonality and frequency of incidents, together with where and when these occur, to ensure that our network has an enhanced capability in areas of high demand."
Chief Coastguard Paddy O'Callaghan said the public should "remain alert" to coastal hazards such as cliff falls and tidal cutoffs, while enjoying the outdoors over summer.
He said: "This also includes checking the weather and tide times before heading out and considering that even in summer, UK waters can be cold, and entering unprepared can be dangerous."
