Drowning deaths continued as heatwave gripped UK
The Get Water Wise campaign charts 18 deaths since the start of April
As the latest heatwave comes to an end, our Get Water Wise campaign has seen another devastating season of drowning deaths in our rivers, lakes, seas and reservoirs.
Since the start of April this year we've charted at least 18 tragedies in our waterways, these included:
- A 15 year old girl who drowned in a river in Tameside
- A 15 year old boy who drowned in the River Eden in Carlisle
- Two men who died off the coast of Devon
Each year, June, July and August are the deadliest months in our waterways, and this year is no exception.
READ: How we started the #GetWaterWise campaign
In 2022, we tragically saw 37 people aged 19 and under die from accidental drowning in the UK.
Drowning Prevention Week
Drowning Prevention Week 2023 once again puts the issue into the spotlight, as we continue our #GetWaterWise campaign to raise awareness of the threats that come with swimming in open water.
We've been hearing first hand about the devastating impact losing a loved one can have.
READ: What to do if someone gets into trouble in open water
Becky Ramsay's son Dylan died after getting into trouble in a quarry in Lancashire.
She's tirelessly campaigning for better education in schools, so no child is missed when it comes to learning about the dangers water can pose.
"Water can be dangerous"
She told us: "I'm absolutely distraught, every time I see that someone has drowned in open water, I'm distraught.
"All parents out there, if you could please learn a little about water safety, about cold water shock, the dangers in and around open water, just talk to your loved ones, just so they're aware, just so they know water can be dangerous."
Dylan died aged just 13.
He was athletic, and was described as being a strong swimmer.
Becky says the impact of his death is with her every day: "It's not just the memories we made with Dylan, it's the memories we don't get to make with Dylan.
"We don't get to see if he gets married, has children, whether he'd travel the world, we just don't get to see that.
"Quite honestly, when you're jumping in canals, rivers, reservoirs with your mates, you might lose your life - your friends will lose their lives too, your family lose their lives too.
"The knock-on effect is like a ripple."
New animation for children
The Royal Life Saving Society has marked Drowning Prevention Week with a new animation to warn children of the dangers of open water, and what to do if someone gets into trouble while swimming
Lee Heard, Charity Director at RLSS UK said, “We hope that our new animation provides families with a resource to start those conversations around how everyone, including children, can stay safe in and around water.
"We want families to be able to enjoy the water but do this in a safe way by recognising any potential dangers, and also knowing what to do if they or someone else finds themselves in difficulty.
“The animation will also form part of our education resources that we have once again made available to primary and secondary schools in the UK and Ireland. Last year over 341,000 school children were educated in water safety using our free downloadable school resources and this year we hope to educate even more children.”
Find out more about staying safe in open water with the Royal Life Saving Society
Follow this advice, and stay safe around water
During hot summer days, lakes, rivers, reservoirs and the sea can look really tempting.
But beneath the surface can lie hidden dangers, cold temperatures an unexpected currents.
The Royal Life Saving Society has this advice to stay safe.
Look out for lifeguards
If you're looking for a place to cool off always find a lifeguarded swimming site.
It’s colder than it looks
Water at open water and inland sites is often much colder than it looks, cold water can affect your ability to swim and self-rescue.
Don’t go too far
Always swim parallel to the shore, that way you're never too far away from it.
It's stronger than it looks
Currents in the water can be very strong. If you find yourself caught in a riptide – don't swim against it – you'll tire yourself out. Swim with the current and call for help.
Bring a friend
Always bring a friend when you go swimming so if anything goes wrong you've got someone there to help.