Treat Your Life Jacket Like a Parachute Says Top Rowing Coach

Dan Cooper running in the London Marathon to raise money for river safety

Following checks of lifejackets used by rowing clubs and schools which revealed alarming levels of failures, Dan Cooper, GB rowing team coach, is running the Virgin London Marathon on Sunday 24 April to raise money for RNLI Lifejacket clinics.

If you want to support Dan in his efforts you can make a contribution through his Just Giving page.

Dan commented, “Treat it like parachute; if the worst happens when out on the water a functioning lifejacket can save your life, a damaged one won’t.

"In between training sessions I am liaising closely with the RNLI safety team, British Rowing and Lifeboat crews on the Thames to help with the fundraising but also to spread essential safety messages.

"RNLI safety officers have been running such clinics for leisure boaters on the coast for many years and can bring this expertise to the rowing community on tidal rivers and inland waters. ”

The RNLI has 233 lifeboat stations including four on the Thames. Chiswick RNLI lifeboat became operational on the 2 January 2002. Since then it has responded to over 2,200 emergency calls.

April 22, 2016