Figures show an increase in almost fatal accidents in water around the North West coast
New figures have revealed an increase in near-fatal drownings around the North West coast.
More than 60 people were saved by RNLI crews in 2015, while 22 people lost their lives.
Now rescuers are asking people to take extra care in the water and have started a campaign to halve accidental deaths around the coast by 2024.
The Respect the Water campaign is specifically targeted at adult men, who account for by far the most incidents. The five-year figures show 122 people have died around the north England coasts since 2011. Between 2011 and 2014, men accounted for 75% of the deaths. Last year, 68% were men.
Around half of the coastal deaths each year are people who never planned to enter the water. Of the 122 deaths over the five-year period, 48% did not intend to get wet – they involved people taking part in activities such as coastal walking and running.
Helen Williams, RNLI Community Incident Reduction Manager for the north of England, says: ‘People need to treat the water with respect – it’s powerful and unpredictable. Each year RNLI lifeboat crews and lifeguards save hundreds of lives but, sadly, not everyone can be saved. We lose an average of 24 lives around the north England coasts each year and the real tragedy of the situation is that many of these deaths could have been prevented.
‘Cold water is a real killer. People often don’t realise how cold our seas can be – even in summer months the sea temperature rarely exceeds 12oc, which is low enough to trigger cold water shock. If you enter the water suddenly at that temperature, you’ll start gasping uncontrollably, which can draw water into your lungs and cause drowning. The coldness also numbs you, leaving you helpless – unable to swim or shout for help.
‘The fact that so many of the people who die at the coast each year never planned to enter the water suggests people are also not taking enough care along the coastline itself. We’re warning people to stay away from cliff edges, particularly where there is slippery, unstable or uneven ground; stick to marked paths and keep an eye on the water – watch out for unexpected waves which can catch you out and sweep you into the water.
‘If you’re planning to get into the water be aware that, even if it looks calm on the surface, there can be strong rip currents beneath the surface, which can quickly drag you out to sea. The sea is powerful and can catch out even the strongest and most experienced swimmers.’