Family of Manchester student who drowned in a canal launch Christmas safety campaign
Nick Pope, whose son Charlie died after falling into a canal in Manchester City Centre, is warning others 'Don't Drink and Drown' this festive period
A campaign's underway across Greater Manchester to try and prevent people drowning - after a night out over Christmas.
Over the last three years, 45 people have had to be rescued from a river or canal in Manchester City Centre.
Manchester University student Charlie Pope tragically drowned near Rain Bar in Deansgate in March 2018.
Now, his dad Nick is working with the Manchester Water Safety Partnership to support the Royal Life Saving Society UK’s Don’t Drink and Drown campaign, from 2-8 December, which urges people not to walk home near water after they've had a drink.
As part of a safety campaign a video has been produced on behalf of the Manchester Water Safety Partnership, with Nick Pope and Canal & River Trust urging people to stick together on nights out and take a safe route home.
"There are certain trigger points... Christmas is one because your family isn’t complete”
Earlier this year barriers were installed along the stretch of canal where Charlie drowned, with the fencing now directing people to cross the canal using an existing footbridge. The Partnership has also installed rescue equipment at Lock 89 (Tib Lock) and Lock 87 (Canal Street) and lighting has been upgraded along the canals in the city centre with further safety improvements planned in the future.
Nick Pope, said:
“I fully support the RLSS 'Don't Drink and Drown' campaign, which this year focuses on the key message of looking after each other on a night out, particularly when near water. Alcohol near water is a dangerous combination and I give great credit to the Manchester Water Safety Partnership for their efforts in improving safety around the inner-city waterways"
David Wilson, Station Manager at GMFRS and chair of the Manchester Water Safety Partnership, said:
“During the past three years we have rescued approximately 45 people from rivers and canals in and around the Manchester City Centre area.
“Manchester is a fantastic and vibrant city and we want everyone to enjoy their time here. On your way home after a festive night out, look out for your friends at the end of the night and find another route home away from water.”
There were 1,4581 accidental deaths in the UK between 2014-2018 and more than 30% of the victims had alcohol and/or drugs in their bloodstream*. Many of them drowned because they walked home alone and fell in the water.
Laurence Hickin, RLSS UK Community Drowning Prevention Coordinator for the Manchester area, said: “It’s a sad truth that the number of drownings increase in the winter period, more often than not because of intoxication.
“Families, friends and whole communities are left devastated every year because someone walks home alone whilst under the influence and falls into the water. We’re urging people to stay together on a night out. Make sure their friends get home safe and don’t let them walk anywhere, especially near water, alone.”
“Families, friends and whole communities are left devastated every year"
The Don’t Drink and Drown campaign, this year running from 2 to 8 December, was launched in 2014 following a string of tragic drownings of young people. RLSS UK was keen to prevent more tragedies, by targeting at risk groups in hot spot areas, at particular points in the year where alcohol related drowning incidences increase - September (at the start of the new university term) and December (during the festive period).
As part of the campaign, organisations up and down the country promote water safety messaging and run awareness activities urging revellers to take care near water whilst under the influence of alcohol and/or.
Tips on Staying Safe this Christmas:
• Don’t walk home near water, you might fall in
• Look out for your friends, make sure they get home safely
• Don’t enter the water if you have been drinking
• Alcohol seriously affects your ability to get yourself out of trouble
For more information on RLSS UK’s Don’t Drink and Drown campaign visit www.rlss.org.uk, follow the campaign on #DontDrinkandDrown, or call 0300 3230 096
First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app.