Mum to launch water safety charity in son's memory

Joshua Hillstead died in hospital on 23 July 2024, a day after being pulled from the River Arrow

The mother of an eight-year-old boy who died after being pulled from a river is launching a water safety charity in his memory.

Joshua Hillstead, from Maypole, Birmingham, died in hospital on 23 July 2024 following complications from drowning after he had fallen into the River Arrow in Alcester, Warwickshire.

His mother Rebecca Hinde is founding the Joshua Hillstead Foundation charity to mark the first anniversary of his death.

Ms Hinde described how a "piece of me died that day too" and said her goal was to prevent other families from feeling the "devastation" that her family felt every day.

Joshua suffered a pulmonary haemorrhage and was put on a ventilator, but he stopped responding, Ms Hinde said. She added it had been the "hardest decision to turn off the machines and let him go".

He died in Birmingham Children's Hospital the day before his ninth birthday.

"Every day my heart breaks all over again, he had so much life ahead of him and I'm so proud to have been his mum."

Ms Hinde said the aim of the foundation was to raise awareness and educate children about the dangers of natural waterways.

"Our goal is to help all children to understand undercurrents, tides, ice, cold water shock, whilst also highlighting surrounding dangers such as sand banks, rocks, weeds and sudden drops."

Joshua's mother said she was "so proud to have been his mum"

Ms Hinde also supports wider water safety awareness, including initiatives run by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK).

She joined the charity in Westminster last month to lobby for water safety education to be part of the National Curriculum in England.

She added parents could not be there for their children 24/7, but could "definitely give them the skills and knowledge to keep them safe".

The newly founded charity will be officially launched at Wythall Park, in Worcestershire, on Saturday as part of a day in honour of Joshua.