Son warns of sea risks after dad and dog drown

Robbie Jones' dad Gareth went missing after a dog walk in Hove

The son of a man who drowned while trying to save their pet has warned others about staying safe in water.

Speaking to the BBC in Brighton, Robbie Jones said he wanted to "make a positive difference out of a tragic circumstance".

The 28-year-old added one "simple thing" people could do if they got into trouble in the water was float to live, which involves floating with their head back and getting their breathing under control.

His warning came as data from the National Water Safety Forum, released on World Drowning Prevention Day, revealed young people aged 10 to 29 account for more than a quarter of accidental drowning deaths in the UK.

'I never saw my father again'

Robbie, who has been giving lessons in schools across Sussex and Hampshire, said not enough people knew how to stay safe while swimming.

He added that his dad Gareth Jones, who drowned after trying to rescue their cockapoo Connie from the sea in Hove, might not have died if he had known some survival techniques.

"In an ideal world, he would have never entered the water in the first place," Robbie said. "Don't go in after your family pet. That's one of the no-nos."

Robbie said he wanted to leave a legacy for his dad

He said that, rather than floating to live, his father panicked.

"The whole thing was only 52 seconds and then I never saw my father again," Robbie said, adding that he had seen CCTV footage of what happened.

"It shows how quickly this can happen if you don't take precautions and safety measures," he said.

Their dog Connie was found dead on Brighton Beach on 18 January, while the body of father-of-three Gareth's body was found at Tide Mills, near Newhaven, the following day.

When asked if his father would be proud of him, Robbie said: "That's not why I'm doing it.

"[I want to] turn my grief, which is obviously still very much there, into something worthwhile and [to create] some sort of legacy for my dad."

Gabbi Batchelor, water safety education manager for the RNLI, warned there were "hidden dangers" in the sea, like cold shock, rip currents and sudden drops.

"Floating is a simple, proven method for surviving if you find yourself unexpectedly in the water," she said.