READING has one of the highest rates of water rescue incidents in Berkshire with the number across the county soaring by 50% in the past three years.
The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service said most emergency call outs take place between June and August and it is backing a campaign by the World Health Organisation to raise public awareness around water safety.
New figures show that the Rescue Service responded to 36 water rescue incidents involving people getting into difficulty in Berkshire’s waterways with 42% of incidents occurring in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead with Reading second on 28%
Nationwide, there were 226 accidental fatalities in the UK from drowning in 2022 with almost half happening during the summer. England has the highest death rate (151) with 45 in Scotland, 22 in Wales and eight in Northern Ireland.
Neil Whiteman, Community Safety Advisor, RBFRS, said: “Drowning is an issue that affects every nation of the world. Therefore, we are urging people to take care around Berkshire’s waterways this year.
“Following tragic deaths in the water over the last few years we are working with our partners in the Thames Valley, to warn and inform residents of how to stay safe by the water and ensure vital water safety messaging reaches schools, leisure centres and members of our communities.”
Jess James, area manager prevention and protection, RBFRS said: “According to the World Health Organisation, drowning is a serious and neglected public health threat claiming the lives of over 370,000 people a year worldwide.
“Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service is playing its part in helping to raise awareness of this issue by ensuring our communities understand that drowning is preventable. Knowing how to keep ourselves and our families safe when we are in, around or on the water is just one important step in helping to reduce the number of water-related incidents in our County. This is why we’re working closely with other emergency services, the Environment Agency, local authorities, leisure centres and schools to promote water safety messaging throughout the year.”
One woman who understands the tragedy of losing a child from drowning is Lucy Herd from Wokingham. Her toddler son Jack, aged 23 months, drowned in a garden pond in 2010.
“As a mum, my world died the day Jack died. It was every mother’s worst nightmare. I took my eyes off Jack for those split moments and he wandered away from my protection.”
Following Jack’s death Lucy launched a campaign for paid parental bereavement leave to be made a legal right and was delighted when Jack’s Law came into force in 2020.
Lucy now works as a Grief and Trauma Specialist helping people who are grieving and runs a community group called ‘Grief and a Cuppa’ to ensure ‘no one grieves alone’.
RBFRS is delivering several water safety initiatives throughout the County, including providing advice at local community events and fire station open days, throw-line demonstrations, water safety education to primary and secondary school children, stepping up multi-agency patrols in known high-risk areas and providing face-to-face advice to people taking part in leisure activities close to or in the water.
