More than 100 accidental drowning deaths have occurred in London since 2020, and with three UK heatwaves already this year causing over a dozen drownings nationwide, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) is urging the public to take extra care around water this summer.
At one lake in Lincolnshire, two teenage boys drowned within two months of each other in unrelated incidents. In response, LFB visited Kingston’s designated bathing water site yesterday – the first of its kind in London – alongside local crews from Kingston Fire Station and the RNLI.
LFB warns of increased risk during school holidays
Richard Field, LFB’s Deputy Assistant Commissioner, said: “It looks like so much fun. People were enjoying themselves and that’s beautiful to see.” But he added: “I think where there’s any body of water and you’ve got people entering it, there is always an increased risk of getting into trouble or drowning. And the risk increases particularly for those who are vulnerable.”
Within this category he includes young people, those who are intoxicated or impaired, and weaker swimmers. As schools break up this week, he said, many young people may be heading to swimming spots like the one in Kingston, which opened in May. “We’re asking parents, guardians, people who look after children to just have a chat with them and explain the dangers of going into water,” he said.
Kingston bathing spot: no lifeguards, depths of at least 1.5m
The Kingston bathing spot has water depths of at least 1.5m and is unsupervised by lifeguards. “If a body of water hasn’t got a lifeguard, it just means someone can go undetected for some time before help arrives. It’s a longer period of time,” Field added.
He stressed that he does not want to discourage members of the public from using the site. “I would just say, particularly for children, they shouldn’t be out of your sight around water,” he warned, adding that it is safer to opt for locations with lifeguards present.
Tombstoning and cold water shock: hidden dangers
Field also said that activity that is not strictly swimming can be dangerous. He referred to what is called “tombstoning” – where a person leaps off a bridge or cliff into a body of water. “That can be extremely dangerous because water levels rise and fall [meaning water could be shallow]”, he said. “Also, you don’t know what’s under the water. You’ve got debris, you’ve got trolley carts, you’ve got things which you can’t see. It can lead to injury and in the worst case, people can unfortunately lose their lives from these acts. They seem like good fun, but it comes with a risk.”
Another hidden danger is cold water shock. Even in hot weather, when water feels warm on the surface, the depths can be much cooler. This can cause people to lose their breath and inhale water. Cold water shock can cause panic, disorientation, and loss of muscle control.
Increase in water incidents and drownings involving children
According to Field, there has “definitely been an increase” in the number of water-based incidents the London Fire Brigade has responded to in recent years. Field explained that a “staggering” number of accidental drownings in London since 2020 have involved children and young people. He believes a growing interest in activities such as water sports, combined with hotter summers, has encouraged more people to get into the water.
Field continued: “Stand-up paddling is one of the examples. We’ve just seen an increased use of our bodies of water. And it is becoming hotter.”
LFB’s safety measures and partnerships
LFB has specialist rescue units with water equipment, as well as a larger rescue boat based at Lambeth. It is also working with partners, including the RNLI and the London Ambulance Service, to drive the message of “safety, safety, safety.” At Kingston, firefighters demonstrated the throw lines installed along the River Thames, which can be accessed by calling 999 to obtain a three-digit code to unlock the cabinet.
