Accidental drownings prompt open water warning

Liam Webb, a critical care paramedic, said people often did not understand the dangers of water

Midlands Air Ambulance is urging people to respect the water, after there were 18 accidental drowning deaths in the region last year.

Data from the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) showed that May 2024 saw the most accidental water-related fatalities, with 193 people dying in the UK in total. Inland waterways accounted for 61 per cent of the deaths.

Now, the charity, which covers Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, the West Midlands and Gloucestershire, wants to ensure the public are being vigilant in or around water.

"Often we find that people enter the water and don't understand the dangers of it, they don't respect the water", said Liam Webb, a critical care paramedic.

"They get into difficulty because of cold water shock, or they're not swimming in designated areas."

NWSF also said that warmer weather often correlated with more water-related fatalities.

There were 18 accidental drownings in the West Midlands in 2024

"When the weather gets hot we definitely see an increase in people going into the water as they want to cool off," added Mr Webb.

The charity said people needed to learn to float if they got into difficulty in water.

"Lay back, float and that involves submerging your ears and trying to breathe normally," he said.

"If you find someone in the water, we ask you to call for the emergency services... tell the person in the water to float and throw anything you can to them which could help.

"Whether that's an emergency life raft buoy, branch or an inflatable, throw that to them in the water."