Bristol City Hall lights up in blue amid rise in drownings
Water-related incidents are growing across Bristol and the South West
Last updated 26th Jul 2022
Last night, Bristol City Hall lit up in blue to call attention to the number of drownings in the UK.
In the last year, 277 people died from drowning.
The number of water-related incidents is also growing in our region.
Avon Fire & Rescue, who provide response services in Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, tell us they attended 94 water-related incidents so far this year. That's a 16% increase compared to last year.
For the first time in the UK, the number of inland drownings accidents in the UK surpassed the number of drownings at sea.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio outside Bristol City Hall last night, Avon Fire & Rescue Station Manager, Danny McCarthy, indicated that heatwaves caused by global warming and the pandemic are likely to be contributing factors:
"People have been encouraged by the hot weather to get into the water to cool down and have fun.
"We've also seen people coming out of a pandemic where we saw an increase of people using lakes and rivers, because places like swimming pools and other facilities were shut.
"It might be the hottest day of the weather, but you could still have really really cold water (in lakes and rivers) and people can suffer cold water shock, where they use the ability to swim and they go under the water and into difficulty.
Anyone who falls unexpectedly into cold water can instinctively react through panic and try to swim hard to reach safety. However, the best chance of staying safe is to fight this instinct and float to live.
Recent figures also show that around half of water-incidents recorded in the UK last year involved people who didn't intend to go in the water.
Avon & Somerset Station Manager Danny McCarthy explains:
"They might just be there going for a walk (along the river), and they've seen someone in difficulty and feel like they can help them.
"Not recognising the dangers of these waters, they may enter the water to give assistance and inadvertently get into difficulty themselves and require rescue themselves; and in worst case scenarios they don't come out of the water alive."
Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, explained why the City Hall was lit up blue:
“On World Drowning Prevention Day (25 July) to help raise awareness and encourage everyone to understand the risks water can present, City Hall was lit up blue throughout the evening.
“Swimming in open water, however tempting during hot weather, can present risks including cold water shock, boat strike, hazardous objects under the water, strong currents, and illness and infection. This is why many open water areas in Bristol, such as the harbour and stretches of the tidal River Avon have bye-laws which prohibit swimming, and we ask people to refrain from swimming where they are in place.
“If you see someone in trouble in the water, call 999 immediately and avoid putting yourself at risk by trying to save them.”
Globally, drowning claims the lives of an estimated 236,000 lives annually.
Across Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset, Avon Fire & Rescue say they "are working hard to reduce drownings in our communities".
They've urged people to follow water safety guidance at all costs when planning their next dip in the water. You can find more information here.