UPDATE: Paddleboard industry agrees coordinated messaging as MPs 'call for progress on SUP safety'
Just days after the death of a paddleboarder, our safety campaign has taken another major step forwards today
Last updated 19th Jul 2022
The UK paddleboard industry today agreed to start speaking with one voice on safety - as senior MPs in the Government warn they want to see progress.
Today the second ever SUP industry summit took place at the RNLI's headquarters in Poole, which aimed to build on the success of our first event in Parliament in March - with more than 40 brands, key players and water safety organisations represented.
It finished with an agreement for the first-ever British industry coordinated messaging to be released on Monday's World Drowning Prevention Day
While not all brands are expected to take part, Monday will be the first time the industry has started to speak with one voice - as it tries to improve safety messaging.
Today's summit also saw a commitment from many of the brands and campaigners represented to hold follow up meetings in the Autumn - and look to develop safety messaging for future years.
The RNLI has seen a 132 per cent rise in rescues of paddleboarders in recent years.
Ahead of the event MPs have recorded messages for the delegates pointing out the Government is taking a watching brief on the issue of paddleboard safety and wants to see industry-led progress to improve safety.
Cheltenham and Simon's MP Alex Chalk, Steve Double who represents St Austell and Newquay and Scott Mann, the North Cornwall MP, spoke with Simon's best friend Sam Foyle and Greatest Hits Radio's Andrew Kay ahead of the summit in Poole
Last week a woman died and two others were rescued after going paddleboarding on the Conwy Estuary in Wales while an investigation is underway into four deaths in Haverfordwest in 2021 - with the RNLI warning it is rescuing more and more people on paddleboards.
In August 2020, competent swimmer Simon Flynn, 42, from near Cheltenham, drowned in Cornwall's Camel Estuary when his paddleboard ankle leash got trapped in a boat mooring.
Afterwards a coroner said it was an issue for manufacturers to look at and since then we've worked with Simon's best friend Sam Foyle to see what changes could be agreed.
In March 2021, working with Simon's local MP Alex Chalk, we brought the SUP industry together to discuss joint safety messaging and gauge support for creating a recognised sports governing body to lead on safety messaging.
Following our event in March the RNLI and British Canoeing have been jointly writing to non-traditional water sport retailers urging them to include safety information at the point of sale. A new course has also been released, aimed at those new to the sport, highlighting key information - which some SUP brands now give out vouchers for with sales of new boards.
Paddleboarding is the UK's fastest growing sport and the world's biggest SUP brand RED has backed our campaign.
British Canoeing, which has applied to be recognised as the sports governing body, last year updated its safety advice and released a new video to combat internet misinformation
The SUP brand Fatstick agrees to sell two types of leash as standard, after Simon's death
Paddleboarding superstar, water safety campaigner and and now multiple world record holder Brendon Prince, has backed our campaign
For more about the campaign in Simon Flynn's name click here