They are the emergency service staffed almost entirely by volunteers – and last year in Falmouth they were called out on average to more than one incident every single week of 2018.

Over the course of 52 weeks, the dedicated members of Falmouth Coastguard Rescue Team were sent to 76 incidents, which totalled around 235 hours of time spent rescuing people.

Of these incidents, there were 15 involving rescuing or keeping people safe from the water, another 15 made up of search and rescue, ten setting up landing sites for the coastguard helicopter in emergencies and no less than five involving the discovery of ‘time expired’ pyrotechnics.

There were also two mud rescues, four ‘rope’ rescues – usually going over the edge of a cliff – three giving first aid, five transporting casualties, nine involving safety and investigations such as vessels going aground, three general ‘other’ incidents and one major incident.

Amongst all that the coastguards put in 1,149 ‘person hours’ between them, taking part in 45 training and practice sessions, to make sure that when the real shouts came they were ready to deal with them.

The team has started the year by saying: “We wouldn’t be able to do any of this without the support of our families and employers.

“As we are a volunteer service, we are often called away from home or work at a moment’s notice. So a huge thanks to all of our families and work families.”

The coastguards have already started 2019 as they expect to go on, with two shouts in the space of as many days.