MPs fell silent as the names of recent drowning victims, including 13 children, were read out in a Westminster Hall debate on water safety, with ministers facing calls to do more to prevent future tragedies.
Turning point demanded after week of tragedy
The government was told that the deaths of 19 people in just one week during the recent Bank Holiday heatwave must be a turning point to make outdoor water spots safer. Labour's Darren Paffey warned that without a clear plan, the heartbreak of that terrible week will be repeated.
Mr Paffey noted that 600 people die each year in the UK from drowning, including a classroom of children. He called on the government to heed The Mirror's Save Lives for Sam campaign, which demands the introduction of Sam's Law in memory of Sam Haycock, 16, who died in Ulley Reservoir in South Yorkshire five years ago.
Sam's Law would mandate safety equipment
Sam's Law would make it compulsory to install safety equipment around high-risk water areas and make damaging such equipment a criminal offence. Mr Paffey told the debate: "We know that what started out as days to enjoy ourselves and for fun in the sunshine have since been overshadowed by the unprecedented tragedy of no less than 19 deaths."
He continued: "Each year, on average, drownings claim the lives of over 600 people in the UK. That's nearly 12 people every week, every week of every year. And every one of them is a beloved family member, a friend, a colleague. Every single one of them mattered profoundly to those around them, and their deaths have caused such deep pain to those left behind."
Mr Paffey said 196 children have drowned in open water in the last six years, telling the debate: "That's a classroom full of children every year. But what we saw during this recent heatwave is particularly shocking."
Names of victims read aloud
He read out the names of 17 people, including 13 children, who died during the recent heatwave. Two women who died during the same period have not been named publicly. The names read were: Declan Sawyer, 15; Reco Puttock, 13; Lillianna Tomlinson, 17; Muhammed Secka, 16; Phil Crow, 68; Junior Slater, 12; David Tita Jr; Rushabh Patel, 28; Samuel Murphy, 14; Baltazar L'Quy, 14; Panashe Muchenje, 19; Charlie Noble, 16; Chiedza Nyanjowa, 15; Mackenzie Swift, 11; Greg Howes, 44; George Cuckoo, 15; and Palwasha Akbar, 13.
Mr Paffey said: "We mourn their tragic loss here and I'm sure the whole chamber will join me in sending our deepest condolences to their families and friends who have been left heartbroken by their deaths. So now we must act, because it's already simply devastating enough that in an average year, we might see around 30 children drown in open water in the UK, but (in the heatwave we saw) 13 in one week."
The Mirror's Save Lives for Sam campaign
The Mirror has launched the campaign demanding an urgent awareness campaign ahead of the summer holidays targeting parents and children. The newspaper is also calling for water companies to do the right thing by bringing in correct safety equipment, as well as compulsory lessons in schools on how to survive if you get into difficulty in water. In addition to implementing Sam's Law, The Mirror has called for a Minister for Water Safety to be appointed.
Sam's parents, Simon and Gaynor Haycock, have dedicated their lives to educating young people about the dangers of open water. Mr Paffey said: "I want to welcome the Daily Mirror's campaign and the way that they are bringing this issue to the public's attention."
York Central MP Rachael Maskell said: "It is a national tragedy that we come here year after year to raise these issues in this House, and this Bank Holiday heatwave must be a turning point in the way that the government approaches this." Labour backbencher Luke Charters said the Clean Water Bill, which is making its way through Parliament, would be an opportunity to bring in Sam's Law.
Government response
Water minister Emma Hardy said: "Before I turn to responding to honourable members and the policy substance, I want to extend my deepest condolences to the families and friends of all those who have lost their lives in water, and pay tribute today to Sam's family and to The Mirror who have been leading on this campaign." She said a Water Safety Framework will be released by the Department for Education next week, and Drowning Prevention Week begins on Saturday. Ms Hardy vowed that government departments across Whitehall would work together to stop future tragedies.
