Water safety experts have warned about the dangers of outdoor swimming after a number of drownings in recent days as people try to escape soaring temperatures by cooling off in rivers, lakes, reservoirs and other bodies of water.
Recent Drownings Across the UK
Emergency services have reported at least nine deaths due to water-related incidents in the past few days, seven of them young people, as Britain's heatwave sends crowds to the seaside and other swimming spots. On Wednesday, Cheshire Constabulary recovered a body after searching for a 17-year-old boy last seen in the water at Pick Mere, a lake in Northwich. This week, a teenage girl and five boys died in separate incidents in Yorkshire, Warwickshire, Hampshire, Lincolnshire and Lancashire. On Monday, a man in his 60s died after suffering cardiac arrest upon entering the water at Tregirls Beach near Padstow, Cornwall, to help two relatives in trouble. On Sunday, a 72-year-old woman died after being pulled from the water at West Angle Bay beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Cold Water Shock: A Hidden Danger
Dr Heather Massey, an associate professor in extreme environments and physiology at the University of Portsmouth, urged parents to ensure children visit supervised swimming locations with lifeguards and know what to do if they or others get into difficulty. Deaths from drowning often rise in May as hot weather arrives and more people head to open water. Many fatalities are triggered by cold water shock, as water remains very cold even when air temperature soars. "Unfortunately, this is something we see every year," Massey said. "It's a known problem when the air temperature increases rapidly but the water is still very cold. At this time of year, it hasn't had time to warm up."
Data and Risk Factors
Data published by the UK's National Water Safety Forum revealed that water-related deaths last year rose in May and remained high until the end of August. The vast majority of drownings are young men, and more than half occur in inland waterways rather than on the coast. Research from Bournemouth University in 2024 found that accidental drowning deaths were three times higher on days when temperatures rose above 25C, compared with average UK summer temperatures. Most deaths were in men, with the greatest risk in those suspected of drinking alcohol.
Safety Advice
Massey advises people to cool off at locations with lifeguards and enter the water gradually to allow breathing to settle before swimming. "The cold shock peaks in about the first 30 seconds and lasts for two to three minutes," she said. "Once you've let your breathing settle down, and you're able to swim around and control your breathing, you can dip under the water." Beyond cold water risks, people should know what to do if they fall in accidentally or see someone in trouble. The National Water Safety Forum's Float to Live campaign advises rolling onto the back and tilting the head back until ears are in the water, protecting the nose and mouth. "Allow your breathing to calm down and then move your arms and legs as much as you need to stay afloat," Massey said. When others are in difficulty, the advice is phone, float, throw: phone the coastguard or fire brigade, tell the person to float on their back, and throw something buoyant to hold onto until help arrives.
Preventable Tragedies
Gavin Ellis, drowning prevention lead at the National Fire Chiefs Council, said: "No family should have to experience the devastation of losing a loved one in the water. We know that warm weather encourages people to visit rivers, lakes and reservoirs, but these places can be extremely dangerous. We're asking parents and carers to have open conversations with children and teenagers about the risks, and for young people to look after each other and make safe decisions around water. These incidents can happen very quickly, but many are preventable."
