Lowland Rescue issues water safety warning after 14-year-old death in Oxford
The incident marks the 11th open water-related death nationally during the heatwave
A volunteer rescue team in Oxfordshire is urging people to take care around open water following the death of a 14-year-old boy who was pulled out of the River Thames in Oxford.
Emergency services were called to reports of a person in difficulty in the water near Donnington Bridge on Wednesday evening.
Thames Valley Police confirmed the boy’s death yesterday, adding that it is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious.
In the wake of the incident, water rescue volunteers are continuing to highlight the risks associated with open water swimming.
Kris Love, a volunteer search and rescue member with Lowland Rescue, said these types of incidents are unfortunately common during the summer months.
“The National Water Safety Forum have statistically seen around one drowning a day during the months of June, July and August,” he said.
“It's part of the risks of cold water and open water and it’s really for us to make sure that we prepare ourselves appropriately whenever we, on the warmer days, go to the water.”
Mr Love said the recent warm weather may lead people to underestimate the dangers posed by cold water.
“We’re in an unfortunate period of time where we’ve had a really early heatwave in May, so extreme air temperatures, but we also have really cold water temperatures,” he said.
“The water hasn’t had an opportunity to warm up throughout the winter and entry into spring.”
He advised people entering open water to do so gradually and avoid swimming by themselves.
“Don’t go alone, go with friends. Don’t jump or dive in,” he said.
“It’s really important not just for the cold water shock element, but the impact and not knowing what is underneath the water line.”
Mr Love said cold water shock can affect anybody, including experienced swimmers and rescue volunteers.
“When the cold water touches your skin, you gasp. That's the first body reaction that occurs,” he said.
“That gasp then causes panic. You start rapid breathing, panic sets in and, if it’s that cold, you’ll get a loss of control. Your muscles won’t work properly and you’ll find it hard to swim.”
He also encourages people to remember the 'Float to Live' advice promoted by water safety organisations.
“The worst thing to do in panic is to start to thrash around,” he said.
“Float to live is the key message. Put your body back, arms outstretched, put your head back if you can and allow that shock to pass.”
Mr Love added that water safety awareness should be reinforced through schools, families and local communities, especially during school holidays and half term periods.
“It’s really important that the message of water safety is not just limited to emergency services,” he said.
“It should be right down from education, families, and just a general awareness of how we can all be safe in the water, look after each other, and come home at the end of the day.”