Search & Rescue Statistics 2004
From the MoD Annual Report:-
In 2004, there were 1,551 UK or overseas incidents resulting in 1,698 callouts of Royal Navy and RAF Helicopters, Nimrod aircraft and Mountain Rescue Teams, who moved 1,442 people.
Incidents and callouts fell slightly compared with 2003; however the number of people moved increased by almost ten per cent, largely due to three major incidents in August.
On 7 August 2004, 2 Military Helicopters moved 35 cockle pickers to safety from rising tides in Morecambe Bay.
On 16 August 2004, 6 Sea King helicopters moved 91 people to safety from floods in Boscastle on the north coast of Cornwall.
On 18 August 2004, a Royal Navy and a RAF Sea King helicopter moved 53 people after landslides near Lochearnhead in Scotland.
96% of callouts in 2004 were in or around the UK. The others were in or around Cyprus or the Falkland Islands.
94% of UK callouts in 2004 were to civilian incidents.
60% of UK callouts in 2004 were to Scotland, the South West region or Wales. A further 16% of callouts were at sea.