A steep increase in paddleboarders needing to be rescued around the UK has prompted a plea for people to consider the weather and tides before setting off.
Pandemic physical distancing measures fuelled a surge in interest in water sports, and paddleboard retailers sold out and thousands of people joined organisations such as British Canoeing as the coronavirus lockdowns eased. But the swift rise in popularity will have meant more novices at sea and a rise in the number of people getting into difficulty.
