'Every death is heart-breaking' - 5 deaths across Lancashire's open water last year
The mother of a 13 year old boy who fatally drowned is sending a fresh warning
People across Lancashire and all of the UK are being warned to take extra care this summer when close to water, especially inland, as new figures reveal 60% of all water deaths occur there.
The Water Incident Database (WAID), shows almost six hundred people died in UK waters last year, with more than a third being accidental drownings.
The National Water Safety Forum has issued the warning ahead of the summer months, with almost half of all UK accidental drownings last year taking place in June, July and August, with men making up more than 80% of the tragedies.
The warning comes as the Forum relaunches their #RespecttheWater campaign for the which aims to provide simple life saving advice which can help members of the public to take personal responsibility for their own and their family’s safety.
This advice urges people to remember the Call Tell Throw message if someone is in trouble in the water this summer:
• Call 999 – ask for Fire & Rescue if inland or the Coastguard if by the sea
• Tell the struggling person to try to float on their back
• Throw them something that floats