Newcastle man says ‘float to live’ saved his life
RNLI urges people to ‘float to live’ if struggling in water
Those taking to the water in the warmer weather have been urged by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to remember to float if they get into trouble.
In 2024, there were 193 accidental drowning deaths in the UK according to the charity’s data.
Of these fatalities, 84% were male and more 20 to 29-year-olds drowned that year than any other age group.
On Tuesday, the RNLI launched its Float to Live campaign in Bristol at The Wave surfing facility, urging people to remember the lifesaving technique if they get into trouble in the water.
Floating gives those who are struggling a chance to rest and recover their breathing, the charity said.
Emmie Seward Adams, of the RNLI water safety delivery support team, said: “Instinctively, most people who find themselves struggling in the water will begin to panic, swim or thrash about.
“We’re urging people to ignore this instinct and remember to float: tilt your head back, with your ears submerged.
“Relax and try to breathe normally. Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat if you need to.
“It’s fine if your legs sink – we all float differently.
“By doing this, you give yourself the chance to rest and recover your breathing.
“Once you’ve regained control of your breathing, you can call for help or swim to safety.”
TV presenter and adventurer Jordan Wylie, who helped launch the campaign along with RNLI lifeguards, said: “If you remember one thing this summer when heading to the coast, make sure it’s the RNLI’s Float to Live advice.
“This simple technique really could save your life if you get into trouble in the water.”
The charity said the method helped save 22-year-old Euan’s life last summer while he was surfing at Longsands beach in Tynemouth with his brother Andrew, 20.
While out of the water, Euan saw his brother being pulled towards a well-known rip current and ran in to help him.
Euan said: “It was easy to swim out to my brother but really hard to swim back against the rip.
“I had a word with my brother and said we need to swim hard or we’ll be in trouble.
“As we tried to swim, we just weren’t getting anywhere, it was like swimming on a treadmill.”
The brothers ended up on different sides of the rip current, being pulled further apart until they could not see each other.
Euan said he thought the two might drown but remembered the Float to Live technique and floated on his back as he waited for a lifeboat to arrive.
The crew rescued Euan and told him his brother had managed to get back to shore safely.
The RNLI reminded people to call 999 if they see someone struggling in the water and to tell the person to stay calm and float on their back.