Calls for water safety to be added to the school curriculum
In June 2021 alone, a 13 year old boy and 27 year old man have sadly drowned in West Yorkshire
In the first few weeks of June, two young people have tragically drowned in West Yorkshire.
On 1st June, a 13 year old boy was found by divers in the River Calder.
West Yorkshire Police received a report at 2.38pm on Tuesday that the child who had been playing with friends had got into difficulty in the River Calder in Brighouse, about 4.5 miles north of Huddersfield.
Just last week, a 27 year old man died after getting into difficulties while swimming in a reservoir near Haworth.
Police were called to Ponden Reservoir at Scar Top by the ambulance service at about 5.50pm on Tuesday evening to a report a man getting into difficulty while swimming in water there.
Campaigners are now calling for water safety to be part of the school curriculum, just like fire safety, road safety and sex education.
Amanda Ibbotson's step-son, David Cullen drowned in 2005 at Roundhay Park, when he was just 15 years old.
"The thought of anybody having to go through what they all went through that day and losing David and his life being cut short at such a young age, is just heart-breaking."
For the last 16 years Amanda has worked to raise awareness of the dangers of open water.
She said:
"In schools, it's getting that message out there, because they do road safety, sex education, so why they can't have this in the curriculum blows my mind, because they should really.
"The thought of anybody having to go through what they all went through that day and losing David and his life being cut short at such a young age, is just heart-breaking.
"So if I can at least get that message across to one person who sits down with their teenager or child and talks to them for 3 minutes on water safety, then that's what I'm hoping to do."