Fire chief calls for more action to stop drownings

South Yorkshire's chief fire officer Chris Kirby has visited Parliament this week to call for a change

South Yorkshire's most senior firefighter has met MPs to call for the government to do more to prevent lives lost to drowning.

Chief fire officer Chris Kirby visited Parliament this week as part of the Royal Life Saving Society's (RLSS) Drowning Prevention Week.

He joined the group in asking for a change in the law, as drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental deaths in the UK, but has no dedicated minister in government.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is called when people swimming in open water during warm weather get into difficulties.

Mr Kirby said: "What we've noticed in the fire and rescue service over the last 10 years is the significant increase in the number of people who are getting into difficulties within the water.

"They often don't intend to climb in the water, but our climate is getting warmer and we're having sustained periods of warm weather so people will be attracted to the water.

"We want to encourage people to swim safely, understand their limitations, and we're just calling out more awareness for water safety matters.

"We also want there to be a government minister responsible for water safety in England and also want the government to realise that responding to emergencies is not a statutory duty for fire and rescue services in England, yet it is in the devolved nations including Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland."

He also issued advice for people who may find themselves in difficulty in the water this summer.

Mr Kirby said: "We want to make sure they know how to float by laying on their back, keeping their head above water, and gently paddling their arms and legs and breathing normally.

"When people start to panic they are much more likely to get into difficulties.

"We also recommend people to never swim alone, do it with friends or at least make sure there is somebody to call 999 if anyone does get into difficulty."

Also attending the event was Simon Haycock, whose son Sam died in Ulley Reservoir, near Rotherham, in 2021.

He said he was continuing to share the story of Sam's death as the dangers of open water still needed highlighting.

He said: "Seeing South Yorkshire Police recently put out a warning about young people being seen swimming at the reservoir made me feel gutted as it is painful to hear people are still going in there.

"These waters are not safe to swim in and most of the places people swim in, they're not thinking about their strategy of, 'how am I going to get out', or 'how hard is it going to be if I get in trouble for someone to come rescue me?'

Simon Haycock's son Sam died in Ulley Reservoir, near Rotherham, in 2021

"There's all these factors and risk assessing that they are not doing – they are just having fun and they are putting themselves in danger without even knowing it.

"We've learnt the hard way and we don't want other families going through what we went through as it's heartbreaking, We were robbed of a future with Sam just for him having a bit of fun."

The BBC has contacted the government for a response.

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