Rescue Stories

Marine Distress Signals Save Countless Lives

Countless lives at sea are saved by marine distress signals.

When you consider that in 2010, the UK's Royal National Lifeboat Institution was called out to 8,713 incidents involving both commercial and leisure shipping, it shows just how important it is that ships carry flares.

It is also vital that the marine distress signals are a trusted brand, such as Pains Wessex flares from the global market leader, Chemring Marine.

Sailor Gary Guy and his nephew owe their life to Pains Wessex flares and an eagle-eyed RNLI volunteer and they say every boat should carry marine distress signals.

Gary Guy got into trouble after the engine cut out while he was taking his nephew wakeboarding in August 2010, off Aberdovey Beach, at Cardigan Bay, Wales.

As angry white water buffeted the boat, Gary tried to dial 999 on his mobile phone, but it refused to work. Just before the pair was knocked from the boat by a huge wave, Gary grabbed his emergency bag.

He desperately tried to fire a different brand of flare, but it failed. Thankfully, there were also two Pains Wessex Orange Handsmokes in the bag, which operated perfectly.

"I selected the first flare to hand, which was not a Pains Wessex product. I pulled the cord