'Our coastline can be deceptively dangerous' - Fylde Council safety warning after 3,615 drownings since 2020

Fylde Council is backing the Royal Life Saving Society UK’s (RLSS UK) Drowning Prevention Week campaign.

The council is showing its backing of the potentially life-saving campaign by launching an urgent appeal for residents and visitors to stay safe around the Fylde coast’s beaches and waterways this summer.

For more than a decade, the annual campaign - running from 13 to 20 June this year - has provided parents, carers, teachers and educators with essential water safety advice ahead of the summer months, when drowning incidents are most likely to occur.

‘Your safety matters’

Councillor Chris Dixon, Lead Member for Social Wellbeing at Fylde Council, said: "Every summer, we see families and visitors flock to the Fylde coast to enjoy our beautiful beaches - and we want everyone to have a wonderful time, but to do so safely.

“What people often don't realise is that our coastline can be deceptively dangerous. Tides on the Fylde coast can change quickly and without warning, and shallow-looking waters can prove fatal. You do not need to be out of your depth to drown.

"Sadly, the deaths we have witnessed across the UK during recent warm weather spells serve as a devastating reminder that water can claim lives in an instant. These tragedies are not confined to the open sea; rivers, lakes, and seemingly calm coastal waters all carry risks that must never be underestimated.

"Fylde Council fully supports RLSS UK's Drowning Prevention Week, and I urge every resident, parent and visitor to take a moment to familiarise themselves and their families with the Water Safety Code before heading to our shores. Please look out for safety signage, never swim alone and always supervise children closely near water. Your safety matters to us."

‘Swimming ability is not enough to stay safe’

Statistics show that 3,615 people have drowned across the UK and Ireland in the past five years. This year, the campaign is extending its focus to 13 to 17-year-olds after data revealed a 67 per cent increase in drowning deaths among that age group between 2020-2022 and 2023-2025.

RLSS UK stresses that swimming ability alone is not enough to stay safe, highlighting the importance of understanding the Water Safety Code and promoting wider measures to help prevent drowning.

‘Communities free from drowning’

Ashley Jones, Head of Water Safety and Education at RLSS UK, said: "We urge everyone to use RLSS UK's free, accessible water safety resources to educate children and teens with critical information this June, to make sure everyone has a safe summer.

“Whilst a foundation of water safety will be included in England's school curriculum from September, this vital information needs to be taught now, ahead of the summer period, and across the entire UK and Ireland to prevent tragedies. We can all contribute to creating communities free from drowning."

Visit RLSS UK's website now to access free water safety resources for children, parents, carers and educators: https://www.rlss.org.uk/dpw.