Annual coastal fatality figures released this week by the RNLI reveal that, of the 25 people who sadly lost their lives on coastlines in the south west in 2018, eighty per cent were male.
Although coastal deaths were higher last year compared to the 2017 figure (18), 2018 is the second consecutive year to show a lower than average figure.
The data also shows over half (64%) of those who died at the coast in the south west in 2018 ended up in the water unexpectedly – a figure that has remained fairly consistent in over the last couple of years.
As the RNLI’s national drowning prevention campaign Respect the Water launches for 2019, the RNLI is urging the public to take action and follow this potentially lifesaving advice if they find themselves in trouble in cold water.
“Fight your instinct to swim hard or thrash about – this can lead to breathing in water and drowning. Instead, relax and float on your back, until you have regained control of your breathing,” said a spokesman.
Steve Instance, RNLI Community Safety Partner, says: ‘No one should have to lose someone they love to drowning. Many of the tragic deaths at the coast can be avoided if people understand the risks and prepare themselves by practising the Float technique. It’s encouraging for us at the charity to see the number of coastal fatalities fall below average for the second year running, and we’re hopeful our education work is contributing to this downward trend.”
“We’ve been contacted by people who say they recalled the Float safety message while in serious trouble in the water, and that following the RNLI’s advice helped save their life. But we can’t get complacent, we all have a role in getting behind coastal safety education, investing in initiatives and sharing survival skills to help save lives from drowning.”
Ruth Osborne is a keen amateur surfer. When out surfing in Perranporth her surfboard leash snapped, leaving her in the water beginning to panic: “Wave after wave came. You get tumbled up like a washing machine. I was now out of my depth and drifting out of sight. I thought ‘that’s it, that’s me gone. I can’t deal with this anymore.”
“Just a few days earlier I’d been speaking to an RNLI lifeguard, who told me what to do if I was in trouble in the water. I remembered his advice to relax and float, rather than try and swim. I just trusted that laying back would allow me to keep my head out of the water. I was able to conserve my energy and catch my breath. I was eventually pushed back to shore. The advice helped me stay alive.”
Steve continues: “A worrying trend shows men make up most of the fatalities at the coast every year; and last year 20 males lost their lives in the south west. Many of them (35%) and all 5 (100%) of the female fatalities did not plan on entering the water, with slips, trips and falls catching them unaware while out running or walking. Knowing what to do if you fall into cold water can be the difference between life and death.”
“The instinctive human reaction when you fall into cold water can cause panic and gasping for breath, increasing the chances of breathing in water. Although it’s counter intuitive, the best immediate course of action is to fight your instinct and float on your back.”
For those planning to go into the water, the best way to enjoy it safely is to choose a lifeguarded beach such as Burnham-On-Sea or Berrow and swim between the red and yellow flags – the area most closely monitored by the lifeguards. And if you see someone else in danger in the water at the coast, fight your instinct to go in and try to rescue them yourself, instead call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.’
The Respect the Water campaign will run throughout the summer with advertising across cinema, outdoor posters, radio, online, and catch-up TV channels.
