Sister of drowned man joins water safety calls

Ellie Jones said her brother Tom's death changed the way she looked at open water

The sister of a man who drowned has said she wants to stop other families suffering the same experience.

Tom Jones was found dead nine days after he went missing by the River Severn in Worcester in September 2018.

His sister Ellie and his parents spoke alongside police, fire, and rescue teams in Worcester on Friday to relaunch the Home and Dry campaign. Agencies also gathered to spread the message in Ironbridge and Bridgnorth in Shropshire.

"I remember coming in from gymnastics one of the nights, and mum and dad telling me he'd [Tom] gone up to heaven, and I think from that moment everything was kind of just different for me," said Ellie, who was 12 at the time.

"I've spoken to all my friends from school, to the girls that I've met at uni, and I've always said to them 'just please stay away from the water'.

"If you want to go home before everyone else I'm coming with you, we'll get in an Uber together, we're not going anywhere near the river."

The Home and Dry campaign aims to encourage people to be aware of the dangers of water. It operates across Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

The Jones family say they do not want another family to go through what they did

The Jones family are determined to save more lives, and Ellie said she believed some people did not appreciate the danger that water could pose.

"I think we're doing everything we can, it's just whether they want to listen," she said.

"I'd hope people were listening, because I wouldn't want anyone else to experience what we have had to go through."

She said when she moved to university she got friends to walk the route into town in daylight.

"Do the reccy sober, do them in the daylight, and make sure all your friends know to stay safe."

Ian Jones, Tom's father, added: "I took Tom back to uni, and I shook his hand, and I didn't see him again. I can't have any other family going through that, it's just not worth it."

Andy Neal from West Mercia Search and Rescue team wants water safety to be taught in schools

Andy Neal, a volunteer from West Mercia Search and Rescue, was involved in the search for Tom Jones.

He was also part of live water rescue demonstrations in Ironbridge on Friday.

"The big thing that we're trying to warn people about is cold water shock," he said.

"Even in the hot sun, what you tend to get is a warm layer of water on the top... and just underneath it can be very cold."

He said agencies were also keen to teach water safety in schools.

"Prevention is better than cure - we'd rather be spending our time teaching people about it than pulling them out as a body."

Rescue agencies did demonstrations in Ironbridge and Bridgnorth in Shropshire

Simon Cusack, group commander at Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, added that they wanted people to enjoy the beautiful rivers, canals and reservoirs in the area, but to do so safely.

What to do if you or a friend are in trouble

• Roll on to your back, and stretch out your arms and legs

• Shout for help

• If you are on the bank, do not enter the water

• Call 999

Source: Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service

Additional reporting by James Bovill, BBC Midlands Today