Two thirds of the 24 people who lost their lives around Scotland's coast last year, hadn't planned to even enter the water, according to new figures from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

 

The number of near-misses was even higher, with the RNLI's lifeboat crews in Scotland saving 51 lives in 2014.

The figures are published as the charity launches its 2015 national drowning prevention campaign Respect the Water which aims to halve the number of coastal deaths by 2024.

It is targeting those who will be active around the coast. For example the likes of divers over 50 are being urged to get a health check before their next dive. Kayakers are being told to make sure they carry a means of calling for help and keep it within reach at all times.

The charity is also releasing two 'hard-hitting' campaign films, which will be shown in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from tomorrow.

It says that of the 174 people who died over the past five years, over half (90) were taking part in activities like walking, running, climbing and boating and were, therefore, unlikely to have intended to be in the water. Slips and falls while walking and running contributed to the most coastal deaths in Scotland, accounting for 24% (41).

Commercial use of the water, such as fishing boats and fishfarms, accounted for 14% (24); swimming, jumping in and general leisure use 9% (15); and the specialist activities of diving and angling accounted for 13% (22) and 6% (11) of the fatalities respectively.

Men are far more prone to getting into danger at the coast than women. Almost three-quarters (74%) of the deaths over the five-year period were men. Last year 92% (22) of those who died were men.

Michael Avril, RNLI Community Incident Reduction Manager for Scotland, said:

'Most people heading for a stroll or run along the coastline probably wouldn't consider a drowning prevention campaign like this relevant to them as they have no plans at all to enter the water. We're warning people that if they're going near the water, whatever their activity, they could be at risk and they need to take care. Unexpected dangers like slippery rocks, sudden waves or unstable ground can catch anyone out.'

An experienced climber severely injured in a fall from cliffs in Orkney is backing the RNLI campaign. Music teacher Peter Stephenson, 53, warned: "My life-changing experience does illustrate that it doesn't matter how experienced you may be, how familiar you may be with the coastline, that anything can happen."

The accident was on Father's Day in June last year, when he visited the cliffs at Rose Ness in Holm, a few miles from the family's home on the Orkney mainland.

He slipped in front of his wife, Donna, and their children, and fell almost 30ft on to rocks on the shore. He landed face first, smashing his jaw, breaking a leg, fracturing an eye socket and he chipped a bone in his neck.

The Kirkwall lifeboat was called out and used an inflatable boat to reach him.

He said when the RNLI arrived, he felt he was in safe hands and that everything would be okay.

However he did not return to full-time work until January. He now has a limp, requires a bone graft in his jaw and suffers from double vision.

Meanwhile the RNLI remains the focus of criticism itself following its decision to close its lifeboat station in St Abbs, Berwickshire where nearly 300 people protested against the move last weekend. The station has been part of the community since 1907. The RNLI says the decision was taken after a review of more than 10 years' data and that the station at Eyemouth, around two miles away by sea, can cover the area with the addition of a new inshore lifeboat.