Mother of drowned boy Joe says naivety over open water must end

The mother of Joe Absess, who drowned in 2023, calls for mandatory water safety education in schools as part of England's first drowning prevention strategy.

Brit Brief 23/07/2026 19:51

Mother of drowned boy Joe says naivety over open water must end — Mother of drowned boy Joe warns of open water naivety

The mother of a 12-year-old boy who drowned in a lake has said a "sense of naivety" about open water must be addressed as England launched its first ever drowning prevention strategy.

Joe Absess tragedy

Joe Absess died in June 2023 after getting into difficulties while swimming in a lake in the Lake District. His mother, Vanessa Absess, has since campaigned for better water safety education.

Speaking about the new strategy, she said: "There is a sense of naivety about open water and it is something that we need to eradicate."

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National drowning strategy

The strategy, published by the government, aims to reduce the number of accidental drownings in England. It includes plans to improve data collection, promote water safety education, and work with local authorities to identify high-risk areas.

Vanessa Absess welcomed the strategy but said mandatory water safety lessons in schools were essential. "We need to ensure that every child leaves school knowing how to stay safe around water," she said.