Lowestoft and Southwold coastguard rescue teams had a busy 2012

Max Bennett Sunday, January 6, 2013
3.59 PM

THE Lowestoft and Southwold Coastguard rescue teams had a “busy” 2012 as figures show they were called out 69 times.

The teams were called out to 18 water rescues and 17 searches, helped eight vessels in distress, were involved in recovering three dead bodies and one animal rescue.

The 69 incidents also include three involving ordnance, four windsurfer/kayak call outs, three medical assistance shouts and three items ashore/pollution calls.

One of the ordnance call outs involved a grenade found on a beach at Kessingland in February.

A breakdown of the figures shows 39 call outs were in the Lowestoft area, 11 in the Southwold area, 11 on the Broads and eight in the Gorleston area.

A spokesman said via the teams Facebook page “2012 another busy year for the teams with 69 rescue calls.”