National Water Safety Latest Statistics Show 226 Accidental Drownings in 2022

Public urged to ‘Respect the Water‘ as latest statistics show 226 accidental drownings in 2022, with more dying at inland water than at the coast.

With 46% of UK accidental drownings in 2022 taking place in the three summer months of June, July and August, the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) is reminding people to Respect the Water as the warm weather begins but with water temperatures remaining dangerously cold.

The accidental drownings form part of the total water-related fatalities in the UK – for 2022 the total number of deaths in water was 597, a decrease of 19 from the previous year.

The statistics and figures in the report are from the Water Incident Database (WAID), which is maintained by the NWSF. The key accidental drowning insights are as follows:

• There were 226 accidental fatalities in the UK in 2022; 105 of them during June, July and August.
• Of that 226, 151 of them were in England; 45 in Scotland; 22 in Wales; 8 in Northern Ireland.
• Inland water, such as rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs, and quarries continue to be the leading locations for accidental drowning with 60% of deaths.
• Males continue to over represent with 83% of accidental fatalities.
• Recreational activities accounted for 58% of accidental fatalities.

#RespecttheWater is the partnership campaign run by the NWSF and aims to provide simple life saving advice to help members of the public take personal responsibility for their own and their family’s safety, with a focus this year on knowing how to help other people in trouble.

If you see someone else in trouble in the water this summer, remember Call, Tell, Throw:

• Call 999 – ask for Fire & Rescue if inland or the Coastguard if by the sea.
• Tell the struggling person to try to float on their back.
• Throw them something that floats.

The Forum will also be promoting the #RespectTheWater campaign later in the summer for World Drowning Prevention Day on 25^th July.

Read the full report HERE.