'Water can be unpredictable and dangerous' - important safety messages as three die this month in sea tragedies

Дата публикации: 25-07-2026 15:00:00

North East local authorities have shared the crucial water safety information, which is even more important in the summer months and during the school holidays

Основное содержимое страницы с новостью.

North East local authorities have shared the crucial water safety information, which is even more important in the summer months and during the school holidays

Councils in the North East have been highlighting crucial lifesaving advice on water safety, and sharing information on drowning prevention measures in their areas.

ChronicleLive has launched its Stay Water Safe campaign following several tragic deaths across the region this month. People to be fully informed on what to do, if either they, or someone they know, gets into difficult in the water, and how to prevent this happening in the first place.

Last Sunday a man in his 20s died at Cullercoats Bay, with another man rushed to hospital in a "serious but stable" condition after getting into trouble in the sea. And a beach tragedy in Seaton Carew saw two fathers lose their lives trying to save children from the sea on Sunday, July 12.

Wayne Taylor, from Bishop Auckland, died after jumping into the North Sea when his children got into difficulty and was followed by brave Ian Pascoe, 62, from Peterlee. The children were rescued, but both men tragically lost their lives.

Given this month's terrible tragedies, World Drowning Prevention Day, on Saturday, July 25, is more poignant than ever in the drive to raise awareness and make a difference to save lives. Most drownings are preventable and North East local authorities and fire and rescue services say 'the water can be unpredictable and dangerous' as they use a range of methods to spread their message and educate residents.

Find out what these North East council's are doing to help keep people safe on World Drowning Prevention Day:

Newcastle City Council

Coun Owen Burbidge, Newcastle City Council’s Cabinet member for inclusive economy and skills, said: “On World Drowning Prevention Day we’re reminding everyone that most drownings are preventable and that awareness, education and preparation can save lives.

"The safety of everyone in our city is an absolute priority which is why we’re proud to support the water safety work led by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.

"Through engagement with bars and venues along the Quayside, with event organisers as well as visiting leisure centres and schools, their vital water safety messages are reaching residents across the city and helping them understand the risks around open water.

"As a council, we’re proud to invest in practical measures that help keep people safe, including 23 throw line boards along our riverside. While we hope they are never needed, they have already helped save lives since being installed in 2023, demonstrating the value of being prepared.

"By working together to raise awareness and equip people with the knowledge to stay safe and ensure lifesaving equipment is available if it’s ever needed, we can help prevent tragedies and ensure everyone returns home safely."

Northumberland County Council

Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, which leads on water safety in Northumberland, has said it is supporting World Drowning Prevention Day by 'encouraging everyone to play their part in helping prevent drownings and keep our communities safe around water', and working with the council to do so.

Coun Gordon Stewart, the cabinet member for public safety, and the fire authority chair. said: "Every drowning is one too many, by working together, sharing safety messages and making informed decisions around water, we can help ensure everyone gets home safely. This World Drowning Prevention Day, let's unite to turn the tide."

NFRS is encouraging people to remember these simple water safety tips:

• Respect the water and be aware of hidden dangers such as cold water shock, strong currents and changing tides.
• Always supervise children near water and keep them within arm's reach.
• Never enter the water to rescue someone in difficulty. Instead, call 999 immediately and ask for the Coastguard if at the coast, or Fire and Rescue if inland. Throw something that floats to the casualty if you can.
• If you unexpectedly fall into cold water, Float to Live: tilt your head back, keep your ears submerged, relax and control your breathing until the effects of cold water shock pass, then call for help or swim to safety if you are able.

Gary Laskey, Station Manager at Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Northumberland's coastline and open water attract thousands of people every year, particularly during the summer months.

"While these places offer fantastic opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, the water can be unpredictable and dangerous, even on warm days. World Drowning Prevention Day is an opportunity for us all to think about how we can stay safe and look out for one another."

North Tyneside Council

A spokesperson for North Tyneside Council said: “Keeping people safe in and around water is a year-round priority for the council. We have a range of measures in place to help protect residents and visitors, including funding a seasonal RNLI lifeguard service on our beaches from May through to September.

"Alongside this, we provide and maintain a range of safety infrastructure and information, including warning and advisory signage and public rescue equipment that incudes new recently installed emergency throwlines at inland open water sites.

"We also work closely with the RNLI and Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service to promote water safety awareness and provide educational materials and campaigns throughout the year.

"We are pleased to be hosting the RNLI's Float to Live campaign at Waves this summer, helping more people learn simple techniques that could save their life in an emergency.

"We would always encourage people to choose lifeguarded beaches where possible, follow local safety advice and signage, respect the water, and call 999 immediately if someone gets into difficulty."

The council has also new signage on the way down to Longsands and King Edward's Bay, which serves as a reminder to beware of rip currents, which are strong and fast-moving channels of water flowing away from the shoreline and out to sea. They can be difficult to spot, and incredibly dangerous to those who get caught in them.

Durham County Council

In County Durham, the council's swimming pool sites, excluding Spennymoor Leisure Centre, will be offering free sessions for youngsters, while during Drowning Prevention Week in June, swimming teachers highlighted vital water safety advice in sessions, too.

David Gray, chair of the County Durham Open Water Safety Group and Durham County Council’s health and safety compliance manager, said: “We welcome any campaign which seeks to make people aware of how dangerous open water can be and educate them on what they can do to try and keep themselves and others safe.

"We would remind anyone thinking of going for a swim in the sea, rivers, lakes or reservoirs, that people have lost their lives doing so. There are so many potential dangers, from the depth of the water, currents, the cold temperature, or rocks and other items beneath the surface which may not be visible from land.

"There is plenty of safety advice available online, and we’d encourage everyone to make sure they, and any young people they’re responsible for, are familiar with it and know the risks. We take water safety extremely seriously and work closely with the emergency services, the RNLI, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and private landowners.

"We chair the County Durham Open Water Safety Group and carry out risk assessments at the open water sites we own or manage. This risk-based approach involves considering levels of public access and we introduce measures, which might include public rescue equipment and signs, where assessments show they are needed.

"We also seek to raise awareness of the risks of open water and give safety advice. We’ve delivered assemblies to thousands of school children over the last ten years and support a number of campaigns.

"Earlier this year, we worked with County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service to show members of the public and hospitality staff how to use throw lines, in support of ‘Be Water Aware.’ We also provide swimming lessons at our leisure centres, with 5,500 people currently signed up for these; and are offering free swims for under 18s at our pools on World Drowning Prevention Day."

Darlington Borough Council

In Darlington, one member of staff has been going to schools in the area to speak in assemblies, recounting his own near-drowning experience and offering advice to the children on what to do if they end up in a similar situation.

Coun Jim Garner, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for stronger communities, said: "As families spend more time outdoors during the summer holidays, we want to encourage parents and carers to stay vigilant and make water safety a priority.

"Simple precautions and constant supervision can save lives. It is also important that we continue to educate older children and teenagers about the risks of open water.

"Helping young people understand the dangers of swimming in unsupervised locations, the effects of cold-water shock and how to stay safe around open water can make a real difference in preventing accidents and keeping our communities safe."

The safety tips issued by both County Durham and Darlington councils are as follows:

• Never leave children unsupervised near water.
• Check gardens for potential hazards such as ponds and water features.
• Talk to children about staying safe around water.
• Don’t go into open water sites when there is no-one else around.
• Don’t jump into water, go in slowly so your body can acclimatise to the temperature.
• If you get into difficulty in the water, try and float, using your arms to help you do so, tilt your head back and call for help.
• If you see someone in difficulty in the water, don’t go in after them. Phone 999 and if you can find a rope or something that will float, throw it to the person. If they get hold of the rope, try and pull them to safety.

Hartlepool Borough Council

A spokesperson for Hartlepool Borough Council said: "Every year we stage our Swim Safe initiative at Seaton Carew, and this year it was attended by 19 local schools with pupils benefitting from a mixture of land-based and in-water educational activities led by qualified lifeguards.

"The Council’s summer beach season is under way, with lifeguards on duty at Seaton Carew every day from 10am to 6pm until Sunday 6 September. If you are going to swim, do so at Seaton Carew when the lifeguards are on duty, listen to their advice, follow the flag system and never take risks in the water.

"Seaton Carew is the only lifeguarded beach in Hartlepool and therefore the only designated beach we advise for bathing. Only enter the water in the lifeguarded area, which is clearly marked out between the red and yellow flags.

"If you see our lifeguards while you're visiting the beach, please stop and say hello, they are always happy to share advice about staying safe in and around the water. If you've spotted anything that could pose a risk to others, such as hazards, damaged equipment or anything unusual along the beach, please let them know.

"The Council is also reminding people not to swim at Steetley Pier, North Sands or Crimdon Beach, as these areas are extremely dangerous due to strong currents, deep water and underwater hazards. The sea may look calm, but conditions can change quickly."

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council

A Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council spokesperson had this to say on their area: "RNLI Lifeguards educate on beach safety by engagement with beach users on the beach. We also support World Drowning Prevention Day by advertising on social media platforms and turning all public buildings blue.

"The RNLI delivers a lifeguard service on behalf of the council: In Redcar, there are two lifeguards from 10am - 6pm from May 23 to July 18, and on weekends and school holidays daily, from July 19 to September 6. At Saltburn, there are three lifeguards, from 10am - 6pm daily, from May 23 to September 6, with lifebuoy rings located along our coastline, and defibrillators are accessible."

You can keep up to date with the latest from our 'Stay Water Safe' campaign, and keep an eye out for new water safety and drowning prevention content here.

ChronicleLive has created a dedicated WhatsApp community for breaking news and our biggest stories. You can join this WhatsApp community here. It will keep you up-to-date with news as it breaks and our top stories of the day sent directly to your phone.

Did you know you can make ChronicleLive a preferred source of North East news in Google, which will mean you get more of our breaking news, exclusives, and must-read stories straight away? Here's more information about what this means and how to do it - you can also do it straight away by clicking here.

Схожие новости

#	Наименование новости	Тональность	Информативность	Дата публикации
1	'The sea can be brutal' warning by coastguard after Seaton Carew tragedy	-2	6	14-07-2026
2	Key details on Seaton Carew sea tragedy that claimed lives of two heroes	-2	4	14-07-2026
3	Dad of boy, 13, who died in River Tyne urges parents to warn their kids about dangers of the water	0	9.31	25-07-2026
4	Handy, Schwimmflügel, Aufsicht: ⁠Bademeister warnt vor trügerischer Sicherheit am Wasser	0	5	13-07-2026
5	Стало известно о смертельной опасности купания в цветущей воде	-5	5	30-06-2026
6	В Вологодской области на водоеме погибли три человека	0	0	29-03-2025
7	Двое детей утонули за сутки на водоемах Подмосковья	-5	5	02-07-2026
8	В море в Анапе погибли три человека	0	0	05-07-2021
9	Отдых у воды приносит удовольствие только тогда, когда соблюдаются простые ...	3	7	16-07-2026

Классификация: Происшествия. Схожих патентов: 0. Схожих новостей: 9. Тональность: 0. Информативность: 7.01. Источник: www.chroniclelive.co.uk.