Children who missed out on swimming lessons due to the Covid-19 pandemic are among those most at risk of drowning, according to campaigners. Debbie Anne Turnbull, a mother who lost her only son in a drowning accident, has joined the Mirror's water safety campaign, fearing that a generation unable to swim could face increased danger.
Decline in swimming attainment
Figures from Sport England show that swimming attainment dropped from 65% in 2018-2019 to 53% during the Covid years, meaning 500,000 fewer children can swim 25 metres. Turnbull, 67, from Holywell, Flintshire, who was awarded an MBE in 2024 for her water safety work, said: "Potentially due to many pool closures during that time, these families may not have had the opportunity to teach their children how to swim."
She added: "This follows on and will be a generational concern. This could keep on going until there's a tragedy in a family. It's important something is done to make sure these kids are caught up, and not just that but also given life saving skills. Just learning to swim is not enough."
Political and expert support
Labour MP Lee Pitcher, backing the 'For our Sam' Mirror Water Safety Campaign, said: "We also cannot forget the generation of children who missed out on swimming lessons entirely because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Pool closures and school disruptions meant some children went through primary school without ever learning to swim or receiving basic water safety education. Many of those children are now about to hit their teenage years where they are exactly the age group most at risk."
Lorna Goldie, national aquatics competency manager for school swimming at Swim England, noted: "Too many children missed out on vital swimming lessons during the pandemic and did not have the opportunity to meet the national curriculum expectations for school swimming and water safety while at primary school. We are still seeing the impact of that gap today. It is those young people now in secondary school, or who have recently left, who are most affected."
According to Sport England's Active Lives survey, only around 72% of secondary-aged pupils can swim 25 metres unaided. Goldie emphasised: "Learning to swim is not just a life skill, it is a lifesaving one. Every young person deserves the opportunity to learn to swim and enjoy being in the water in a safe way."
Personal tragedy drives mission
Debbie's son Chris died at age 15 in August 2006 while swimming at Cyfyng Falls near Capel Curig in Snowdonia. Despite being a strong swimmer, he fell into a whirlpool created by heavy rainfall, suffered cold water shock, and drowned. Debbie said: "If I knew then what I know now I wouldn't have allowed Chris to go there. He was a strong swimmer and I didn't realise the dangers. Drowning deaths are preventable with knowledge and caution."
She has since founded 'River and Sea Sense', speaking to 900,000 children about open water dangers. "Drowning is fast and silent and dangers are invisible. One conversation could save a life," she said. "Coming up to 20 years since losing Chris is particularly poignant. I am extremely sad and that never goes. You don't move on, you move forward."
Water safety competencies
Swim England recommends everyone should be able to: perform a star float for at least 60 seconds, tread water for at least 30 seconds, have experience swimming in clothing, swim at least 100 metres with ease without stopping, and understand the Water Safety Code.
