Prime Minister Andy Burnham has warned of the dangers of open water swimming during a visit to the North East, stating that the government can 'always' do more on water safety amid an exceptionally hot summer.
Prime Minister's warning during North East visit
Speaking at the Changing Lives charity in Elswick, Mr Burnham said: 'The thing I can say today, and there is still, I think, a further heatwave to come in this summer period, it is just to remind people about the dangers of open water swimming.'
'The coldness, even when it feels hot outside, it can shock people and that can cause the difficulties. So people just need to remember that at all times.'
Tragic incident off Sussex coast
The warning follows a tragic incident in the water off Sussex, near Shoreham Fort, where a mother, father, and their teenage daughter died after getting into difficulty. The Prime Minister described the deaths as 'a real terrible family tragedy' and sent 'best wishes and love to wider friends and family'.
Water safety advice and campaign
This comes as ChronicleLive is raising awareness for drowning prevention and water safety through its 'Stay Water Safe' campaign, highlighted by recent tragedies including the death of a man in his 20s in Cullercoats and the deaths of two dads in Seaton Carew.
Councils and emergency services across the region have echoed the following advice: respect the water and be aware of hidden dangers such as cold water shock, strong currents and changing tides; always supervise children near water and keep them within arm's reach; never enter the water to rescue someone in difficulty, instead call 999 immediately and ask for the Coastguard if at the coast, or Fire and Rescue if inland, and throw something that floats to the casualty if possible; if you unexpectedly fall into cold water, Float to Live by tilting your head back, keeping your ears submerged, relaxing and controlling your breathing until the effects of cold water shock pass, then call for help or swim to safety if you are able.
