Lancashire mum whose son drowned says she feels 'let down' by Government

Beckie Ramsay's petition for water safety to be put on the national curriculum gained over 100,000 signatures

Author: Stan TomkinsonPublished 18th Apr 2024
Last updated 18th Apr 2024

A bereaved Lancashire mother, who campaigned for water safety to be taught to children, says she's 'frustrated' by the government's lack of action.

Beckie Ramsay's petition called for an 'increase in curriculum content about water safety as part of swimming lessons'.

It gained over 100,000 signatures and was debated in parliament 2021.

Beckie's son Dylan drowned in 2011 after getting into difficulty while swimming in a disused quarry with friends.

Campaigning for change since the loss of her son in 2013 the petition saw her receive Petition Campaign of the Year Award at the Your UK Parliament Awards in 2022.

After this initial success Beckie says she was told that changes would have been put in place by 2024. However, she says she's become frustrated by the seeming lack of progress.

Beckie, from Chorley, told us: "I've put thirteen years of my life into this, from the day after Dylan died I said I would start teaching water safety and I have done.

"But I'm only scratching the surface, this is more than important its life-saving.

"It's really frustrating because I put a lot of effort into getting the numbers for that petition, so for them to be the way they are being at the moment its not acceptable and it kind of makes a bit of a mockery of the petitions.

"What's the point of having a petition if at the end of it you're going to get made false promises?"

Beckie added: "It's not even a lot that I'm asking for and that potentially will save hundreds if not thousands of lives every year.

"Not only that but it will also give these children and young people the education to then pass it onto their children.

"I feel responsible for my son's death but I shouldn't feel responsible for my son's death because actually I hadn't been taught water safety either."

We have approached the government for comment.

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