Two lives lost to accidental drownings in Herts last year and one in Bucks, figures reveal
The number of tragic incidents peaked in the spring across the UK
Water safety experts are urging the public to be cautious around open water as figures today (28/05) reveal that two people died from accidentally drowning last year in Hertfordshire.
In neighbouring Buckinghamshire, one person died in such tragic circumstances, while across England 136 people lost their lives.
Data from the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) showed that May was the month last year with most accidental water-related fatalities.
This month being the warmest May on record for the UK, water safety experts are urging the public to Respect the Water, as the risk continues to rise.
At Lee Valley Regional Park, located on the Hertfordshire, Essex and Greater London border, home to several lakes, safety messaging is issued all year round and emphasised in the spring.
Tom Oliver, Park Ranger, spoke of the hidden dangers of the water sources there and said: "The air temperature is really quite warm and people think the water looks really inviting.
"The impacts of that are cold water shock, which can kill.
"Even if you get to the edge, you struggle to get out."
Despite its scenic appearance, the lake — like many former gravel pits in the park — poses serious risks to swimmers.
The lakes in this area, created through industrial excavation, can reach depths quickly. According to Mr Oliver, they often slope at angles of up to 45 degrees. Combined with the stagnant nature of the water and the season’s cold temperatures, this creates conditions that can quickly become dangerous.
The risks go beyond temperature. Underwater hazards such as machinery remnants, large rocks, and submerged tree limbs are common in former gravel pits like these, posing entanglement and injury risks.
In many places, safe entry and exit points simply do not exist. This combination of factors makes swimming in the park both illegal and unsafe.
Mr Oliver added that the Park’s no-swimming bylaws are not about restricting enjoyment, but about protecting lives.
He said: "It’s not so much ‘it’s a bylaw, get out’, it’s more of a conversation around 'this isn’t the best idea, we’re worried.'
"We don’t want to be having conversations with the parents."
In response to past incidents and seasonal spikes in risk, the Lee Valley Park Authority has expanded outreach through the Robbie Lea Water Safety Partnership, which includes local councils, the fire brigade, and the Royal Life Saving Society UK.
It brings together organisations to help prevent further tragedies following the death of Robbie Lea in a lake in Lee Valley Regional Park in May 2017, and was inspired by the efforts of Sarah Doe (Robbie’s mother) to raise awareness of water safety issues.
One key element of this outreach is education in schools.
Since the start of the initiative, the programme has reached more than 11,000 young people, with assemblies and visits now being rolled out across Hertfordshire and Essex.
This spring the Partnership returned to Broxbourne secondary schools to deliver life-saving water safety assemblies to over 900 students.