[image alt="20170725_175338" src="http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2017/07/20170725_175338-296x166.jpg" width="296" height="166" credit-source="Brendan%20Kinsella" caption="People%20sitting%20in%20inflatable%20boats%20in%20the%20River%20Liffey%20today%0A" class="aligncenter" /end]
THE RNLI HAS issued a warning today after a group of young people were photographed in inflatable boats in the River Liffey.
A number of young people were filmed floating down the river near Ha’penny Bridge in inflatable flamingos and unicorns this afternoon.
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The RNLI has advised against the use of inflatables in Irish waters, as they are not designed for coastal and inland waters.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, RNLI area lifesaving manager Owen Medland said that the charity sees a significant increase in callouts during the summer months.
“Many of these [calls] are to people who never expected to get into difficulty in the water,” Medland said.
“As the warm weather continues, more people are taking to the water to cool down and have fun.”
He warned of the dangers of Irish waters that people may not be aware of.
“Irish waters are cold all year round and there are many dangers below the surface that are not visible,” he explained.
It only takes a moment to find yourself unexpectedly in the water and struggling to stay afloat or get to safety.
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The RNLI is currently running a drowning prevention campaign, ‘respect the water‘, to highlight the need to stay safe in Irish waters.
The charity said that around 190 people accidentally die at the Irish and British coasts every year, with around half never intending to go into the water in the first place.
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