Mum whose son drowned at Bournemouth Beach offers powerful life-saving message

On World Drowning Prevention Day we're bringing together bereaved families across the UK - including a mum whose son died on Bournemouth beach to deliver one powerful life-saving message.

Vanessa Abbess's son Joe was just 17 when he drowned on a day out with friends, after getting caught in a rip current.

Vanessa says the situation can change in an instant.

"You need to float. You can't swim against currents no matter how strong a swimmer you think you are. You can't control the water."

"Joe and his friends were having a nice time in the sea. They were waist high in the water. By the lifeguards in the safer swimming zone and then out of nowhere the waves became very ferocious."

Figures from the Water Incident Database (WAID) show that 26% of all accidental drownings in the past five years (2020–2024 inclusive) involved individuals aged 10–29, making them the most high-risk demographic for accidental drownings, both costal and in-land, nationwide.

The risk is significantly heightened during warm weather, when higher temperatures encourage more people—particularly teenagers and young adults—to socialise or cool off in open water. Analysis from the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) and Bournemouth University has demonstrated that accidental drownings are three times more likely to occur on days when air temperatures exceed 25°C, compared to the seasonal average.