Be Water Aware, Fire Brigade urges following deaths on River Brent
London firefighters are urging Londoners to “Be Water Aware,” following the recent death of a woman and a boy in the River Brent. Figures from the London Fire Brigade (LFB) reveal that 40% of water-related incidents take place between May and August, with firefighters attending to over 1,500 water-related incidents over the last five years. According to the Brigade, 103 people over that time have drowned in non-suicide related circumstances.
Boroughs along the Thames are of course the most likely to see people falling into the river. This can happen “after drinking or venture in on hot days to cool off.” According to the LFB, just four boroughs, Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Lambeth, and Richmond, account for over a quarter of water-related incidents.
Recently, a woman and a boy drowned in the River Brent in Brentford. Firefighters were called to reports of two people in the water but “despite the best efforts of crews, both people tragically died at the scene,” the LFB said.
“Our thoughts are with the family and their loved ones following this tragedy and we ask that their privacy is respected at this difficult time,” Assistant Commissioner for Prevention and Protection Pam Oparaocha said. “Sadly, over 100 people have died in non-suicide related drownings in London over the last five years, so this Be Water Aware Week we want to remind Londoners about the real and immediate dangers of open water.
“We know that the warmer weather can tempt people to cool off in rivers, reservoirs and lakes, but even in hot weather most inland water in London remains below 16°C, which can cause cold water shock and lead to drowning. Many Londoners are not aware that despite its calm surface, open water can have strong currents, hidden debris, slippery edges, and sudden drops in depth, all of which could prove fatal.”
If anyone is planning to swim outdoors, they should “do so only in designated areas and ensure that lifeguards and safety equipment are present,” Oparaocha added, and “if you see someone else in difficulty, don’t enter the water yourself. Call 999 and try to throw them something that floats.”
The Be Water Aware campaign, hopes to highlight the “ongoing and preventable risk” of accidental drowning. Between 2019 and 2024, 1,602 people in the country lost their lives in accidental drownings, over half of which occurred in inland waters including rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
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