2025 was busiest year for river rescue boat

A volunteer-led service which patrols rivers has recorded its busiest ever year for call-outs.

York Rescue Boat's crews have responded to 79 incidents so far in 2025, compared to 51 call-outs in 2024 and nine in its first year of operation, 2015.

Funds were raised to set up the service in 2014, following a number of high-profile river deaths in the city, including that of York St John University student Megan Roberts following a night out.

Since then, the volunteers have been deployed 438 times and have "directly saved 45 lives", according to coxswain Mark Mullen.

"This is people in the water who, without our direct intervention, we're confident would have died," he said.

Volunteers have, however, had to deal with 22 fatalities.

The charity is also part of the River Ouse Safety Group, alongside the city council and emergency services, which has overseen improvements to lighting and CCTV around the river.

"It's a continuous project," Mr Mullen said.

Mr Mullen said that in 2025, despite it being "very busy", the types of jobs carried out were similar to those in previous years.

"It just seems to have been a lot more of them."

This year did see a first for the crew, however, as they helped North Yorkshire Police to recover evidence which had been thrown into the river.

"I think knowledge of our capabilities from fire and police control rooms has meant they know what we do and how to call us out, so we've been asked to help on jobs that are not traditionally lifeboat jobs."

The crews conduct proactive patrols of riverside areas of the Ouse and Foss as well as responding to emergencies.

Concerns for safety, which are usually related to mental health crises, have accounted for 32% of calls since 2015.

Others have entered the water accidentally, often while under the influence of alcohol.

The volunteers are often called to search for missing people, while almost a quarter of incidents involve somebody who is already in the river.

The charity also has a flood rescue team, which is on standby to be deployed anywhere in the country during a major weather event.

Mr Mullen added: "I don't think we've ever had to say no to a request in the 10 years we've been going."

Traditionally, August is the charity's busiest month for call-outs, Mr Mullen said.

"You've got a lot more people working around and being around the river in the summer months anyway so it makes sense that you'd have more jobs."

The types of call-outs was similar all year round, he said, adding that during winter, "the river's a lot less forgiving".

"The water temperature's a lot colder, your body goes into cold water shock a lot quicker so you're in a lot more difficulty if you go in the river in winter months."

He encouraged people to "enjoy the river, please enjoy being around the river" but to take care, particularly when it is flooded.

He said: "The river's quite fast-flowing as it stands, and it's also places where you wouldn't expect it to be, in car parks and footpaths."

"Look after yourself and look after your friends."

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