Lancashire suffered second largest amount water related deaths in the UK
The figures released by the National Water Safety Forum reveal that last year the county suffered 10 deaths.
Last updated 30th May 2024
Strong safety advice is being issued today as we head into June which last year saw more water-related deaths in the UK than any other month with 28 lives tragically lost.
Annual figures released by the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) reveal that accidental drownings in 2023 rose to 236 – ten more than 2022.
Of the 157 that occurred in England, 10 were in Lancashire, 2 in Blackburn with Darwen and 2 in Blackpool.
Beckie Ramsay has been campaigning for water safety since she lost her son Dylan in 2011, and recently was successful in getting water safety added to the national curriculum.
She told us that education is key to tackling these numbers: "Before I could never see a future about drowning whereas now I do, I see a future where potentially we could have zero drownings.
"We're a long way off that yet but it could happen and that wasn't even see-able two weeks ago. "
Beckie added: "The deaths will continue to rise if the correct things aren't put in place.
"The education is just one side of it, and that will have an impact in reducing water related fatalities, but there are other things."
The 2023 Water Incident Database (WAID) figures also show that once again most accidental deaths in water occurred inland – 63% were in rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs and quarries – and males are still the overwhelmingly majority of victims – 83%.
Although we are starting to enjoy hotter air as summer arrives, water temperatures are still dangerously cold and many people are unaware of associated risks like Cold Water Shock.
The NWSF run the #RespectTheWater campaign which gives simple life-saving advice for people in trouble in the water.
They urge that if you see someone in difficulty in the water this summer, stay calm, stay on land and follow this 3-step rescue guide - Call, Tell, Throw:
Call 999 to get help immediately.
Tell the struggling person to float on their back.
Throw them something that floats.