THIRTY-FIVE PEOPLE DIE IN OPEN WATER ACROSS UK DURING SUMMER

Thirty-five people have died in open water across the United Kingdom since late May, according to reports marking World Drowning Prevention Day on 25 July. Nine of those deaths occurred in the Midlands region, with victims ranging in age from 13 to 55. The deaths have coincided with record-breaking temperatures and heatwaves across the country, during which people have entered open water to cool off. Fresh warnings have been issued as the school holidays begin.

Among the named victims are Jody Brown, a mother of five whose body was recovered from a canal in Wolverhampton Street, Walsall, in the early hours of 3 May, and Lilliana Tomlinson, a 16-year-old Year 11 pupil at Kingsbury School who died after entering the River Tame at Kingsbury Water Park near Tamworth on 25 May. Jody Brown's family called for safety barriers to be installed around the canal basin following her death. West Midlands Fire Service has urged people to call 999 for the fire service if inland or the coastguard if at the coast, and to float on their back if in water and to use nearby rescue equipment.

Campaigners have described drowning as an "epidemic" and a "national emergency", with bereaved families and MPs backing water safety campaigns. The equivalent of a classroom of children are lost to drowning each year nationally, according to reports. August is expected to bring continued hot weather, raising concerns that further deaths may occur during the school holidays unless action is taken.