The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) with the support of Her Majesty’s (HM) Coastguard have launched a water safety campaign as a new study reveals around 35 million people from across the UK will visit the coast.
In a survey commissioned by the RNLI, 85% of the UK adult population (aged 16-64) expect to visit the UK coast or use the beach or sea between now and the end of September, this is up from 75% this time last year. 42% expect to go three times or more.
Residents in North Derbyshire are being warned about the dangers of the water and RNLI lifeguard Harry Yarbo told North Derbyshire Radio what you should do if you get into difficulty in the water.
There were 277 deaths in the UK from accidental drownings in 2021, across inland and coastal locations, an increase of 23 from the previous year. 40% of people who died had no intention of entering the water, such as those walking, with causes including slips, trips and falls, being cut off by the tide, or swept in by waves.
