How to not drown in UK waters after 193 deaths in a single 12 months
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has launched its Float to Live campaign, urging people to remember the potentially lifesaving technique if they find themselves struggling in the water
Good advice
As the weather warms up and more people take to the water, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has issued a plea for individuals to remember to float if they find themselves in difficulty. In 2024, there were 193 accidental drowning deaths in the UK, according to data from the charity.
Of these tragic incidents, 84% involved males, and more 20 to 29-year-olds drowned that year than any other age group. On Tuesday, the RNLI launched its Float to Live campaign at The Wave surfing facility in Bristol, encouraging people to recall this lifesaving technique if they encounter trouble in the water.
Floating provides those who are struggling an opportunity to rest and regain their breath, the charity explained. Emmie Seward Adams, from the RNLI water safety delivery support team, said: “Instinctively, most people who find themselves struggling in the water will begin to panic, swim or thrash about.
“We’re urging people to ignore this instinct and remember to float: tilt your head back, with your ears submerged. Relax and try to breathe normally. Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat if you need to. It’s fine if your legs sink – we all float differently.
“By doing this, you give yourself the chance to rest and recover your breathing. Once you’ve regained control of your breathing, you can call for help or swim to safety.”, reports the Mirror.
TV presenter and adventurer Jordan Wylie, who spearheaded the campaign alongside RNLI lifeguards, stated: “If you remember one thing this summer when heading to the coast, make sure it’s the RNLI’s Float to Live advice. This simple technique really could save your life if you get into trouble in the water.”
The charity revealed that this method saved 22 year old Euan’s life last summer while he was surfing at Longsands beach in Tynemouth with his brother Andrew, 20. Observing from the shore, Euan noticed his brother being swept towards a notorious rip current and dashed in to assist him.
Euan recounted: “It was easy to swim out to my brother but really hard to swim back against the rip. I had a word with my brother and said we need to swim hard or we’ll be in trouble. As we tried to swim, we just weren’t getting anywhere, it was like swimming on a treadmill.”
The brothers found themselves on opposite sides of the rip current, being dragged further apart until they lost sight of each other. Euan admitted he feared they might drown but remembered the Float to Live technique and floated on his back as he awaited the arrival of a lifeboat.
The crew rescued Euan and informed him his brother had managed to return to shore safely. The RNLI urged people to dial 999 if they see someone struggling in the water and to advise the person to remain calm and float on their back.
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