A total of 50 organisations have joined forces to back the launch of a new campaign targeted at preventing drownings in the UK.
After the latest figures have shown that 277 people sadly lost their lives in accidents in the water in the UK in the past 12 months alone, health and safety campaigners have come together today, on what is World Drowning Prevention Day, to launch the joint campaign – which is called Respect the Water.
Run by the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF), Respect the Water aims to reduce the number of water-related deaths and accidents, and looks to highlight the potential dangers of water, and encourage people to reconsider their actions and adopt safer behaviour.
“We want you to enjoy the water, but we also want you to recognise its dangers and never underestimate its power,” the NWSF explains of the campaign.
By 2026, the campaign is aiming to halve the number of people in the UK who accidentally die in the water each year.
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There may be a #heatwave at the moment, but the water is still cold. If you got into difficulty in cold water, would you know what to do? Your instinct is to thrash around, but cold water shock can make you gasp uncontrollably. Instead, #FloatToLive. pic.twitter.com/Ka26jYvFIU
The World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics estimate 235,600 people drown every year globally, and it is among the 10 leading causes of death for children.
More than 90% of drowning deaths occur in rivers, lakes, wells, domestic water storage vessels, and swimming pools in poorer countries – with children and adolescents in rural areas disproportionately affected.
The NWSF also explains that current drowning figures show a clear gender divide, with men accounting for the vast majority of those who die, so while it says the campaign is “primarily aimed at men”, the safety advice is just as relevant for anyone who finds themselves in difficulty in open water – both at the coast or inland.
The joint campaign has been launched as temperatures have been soaring across the UK as of late, and are set to continue over the summer, and also comes after two teenagers tragically lost their lives in separate incidents in Greater Manchester within the last two weeks alone – a 16-year-old boy in Salford Quays, and another 16-year-old boy in Dawber Delph quarry in Appley Bridge, near Wigan.
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As we approach the summer school holidays in parts of the UK, we are asking those visiting coastal areas to:
✓ Choose a lifeguarded beach ✓ If you're struggling in the water, #FloatToLive ✓ If you have children, teach them to float
— Canal & River Trust (@CanalRiverTrust) July 15, 2022
The 50 groups backing the campaign are nationwide – including the RNLI, HM Coastguard, the National Fire Chiefs Council, the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents, the Royal Lifesaving Society, Swim England, Water Safety Scotland and Water Safety Wales.
“Contrary perhaps to popular imagination, most accidental drownings occur inland: 168 or 62% in 2021,” said a spokesperson for the Respect the Water campaign group.
“With all UK schools now out for summer, rivers, lakes, canals, flooded quarries and reservoirs are set to get increasingly busy, though many are perhaps unaware of the dangers that these cold, freshwater settings can pose, even when air temperatures are very high.”
277 people died after drowning in the UK in 2021, which is compared to 254 in 2020, and 233 in 2019.
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The RNLI encourages those who find themselves in difficulty in the water to float to “increase your chances of survival” / Credit: RNLI
The RNLI and the Respect the Water campaign says there are “two simple skills” everyone should know that could save a life.
“If you find yourself in difficulty in the water, float to increase your chances of survival,” the RNLI says.
Fight your instinct to thrash around.
Lean back, extend your arms and legs.
If you need to, gently move them around to help you float.
Float until you can control your breathing.
Only then, call for help, swim to safety or continue floating until help arrives.
If you see someone else in trouble in the water, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.
In yet another big TV twist for the BBC drama, the rumours of a Line of Duty season seven are seemingly ramping up once more, with a new filming date now reportedly ‘confirmed’.
For those who watched the smash hit crime thriller the first time around and remember that—let’s call it a divisive ending—there were many fans who wondered if, or at least how, the series could come back.
Well, as it turns out, the writers might have just figured out how to do it (maybe they were planning it all along?), with multiple outlets now claiming that not only has “most” of the next season been written, but a start date for principal photography on the latest chapter of Line of Duty has already been earmarked.
Again, take this all with a pinch of salt for now, but we won’t deny it’s an exciting proposition.
If it does come back, the next question is: how many members of the cast will be returning?
First broke by The Sun, a source is said to have told the newspaper: “This is the news Line of Duty fans have been waiting for since the sixth season left them deflated when it aired back in 2021.”
The insider says that the BBC wanted to commission more episodes to further the story and Line of Duty’s unbelievable success, but that the sheer profile of the show meant that stars Vicky McClure, Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar were offered new projects.
Either way, the source went on to add that “several meetings” have been held with creator Jed Mercurio and the production team since then and “they’ve finally managed to clear space in their calendars next year to commit to making the show.”
We know one thing: it was prime water cooler chat for a good chunk of our time in the office, and we can only hope there’s some truth to these most recent rumblings.
More than a dozen years on from when the series first started, the talk is that the cast and crew will be returning to Northern Ireland – where the latter seasons of the show were largely filmed – and could be starting as soon as January 2026.
“What can I say? I read the same news you all read!” she says, adding, “Nothing has changed. No news, I’m afraid. I don’t know where that came from. […] The thing is, if I had something to tell you I would, but I don’t! I don’t want to tease people unnecessarily.
“It’s great that they [fans] want it, but they’re stories at the end of the day. We don’t want to rule it out.”
It’s not the only modern British TV success story that viewers could be in store for more of…
Much loved DJ and musical artist Luke Una is the latest act appearing at the AO Arena as part of their ‘In Conversation’ event taking place in Manchester later this year.
Luke Cowdrey, known more commonly under the name Luke Una, makes up one half of the unforgettable DJ duo, The Unabombers, who were widely respected in the Manchester club scene.
Known for his involvement in pivotal club movements like Homobloc and E Soul Cultura, he certainly knows how to live it large.
Una’s music helped define the underground scene in Manchester during the 1980s and 90s alongside The Unabombers bandmate, Justin Crawford.
The two were known for producing music in the Northern Sulphuric Soul genre and even ran a legendary club night titled ‘Electric Chair’.
Their music tended to blend lots of different sounds from across the globe, including Latin, hip-hop, disco, house and more.
Now, Una is ditching the decks for a mellower event focused all around his music, where he will be sharing stories that have taken place over the course of his expansive four-decade-long career.
All the talks taking place at AO Arena will be hosted by none other than BBC 6 Music presenter Chris Hawkins known for his work regularly hosting an early morning radio show and also documentaries too.
Una isn’t the only guest who will be talking all things career and Northern music, The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess is also taking part in the AO Arena’s newest talk series ‘Live And In Conversation’ set to take place this month.
The adored DJ is taking to the incredible Manchester venue on 18 May from 6pm to 10:30pm, giving guests plenty of opportunities to learn all about his artistry and skill.
Luke Una is sitting down with Chris Hawkins for AO Arena’s ‘Live And In Conversation’ series, with tickets going on sale HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
25th July 2022 
