Can anyone rescue the UK's Coastguard?

12:37 AM Mon 23 May 2011 GMT

'Speed of response is the issue - new plan criticised' . Click Here to view large photo

Radical changes to the UK's Coastguard are planned by the British Government, and no-one is happy about it. Her Majesty's Coastguard is used by mariners the world over and has saved countless lives at sea. Here Emily Barr, writing for the Guardian, asks 'Why is the government intent on threatening its work?' Last summer, I was walking on the coastal path, when a man ran towards me. 'Has your phone got reception?' he demanded. 'Can you call the coastguard? My friend's down there in a boat, he's hurt his leg, he needs rescuing.' We called the coastguard and explained where ...

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by Emily Barr, Guardian/Sail-World Cruising