Emergency services warn of wild swimming risks

Emergency services in Surrey have issued fresh warnings to the public, asking them to beware of the risks of open water.

It comes after Surrey Police reported an increase in water-based incidents.

Surrey Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS) says more people are climbing over fences into restricted areas, jumping from heights into water, and swimming unsupervised.

People are being encouraged to swim in safe locations to avoid the risk of injury or drowning.

A SFRS spokesperson said: "Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death in the UK.

"Drownings can happen quickly with most people having no intention of entering the water.

"Forty percent of people who accidentally drowned in 2022 had no intention of entering the water."

The warning follows more than a dozen water-related deaths during the UK's heatwave in May, including an unnamed boy from Swanscombe, Kent.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has since asked swimmers to beware particularly of the risk of cold water shock.

The charity said during warm weather people can often forget how cold the water can be, leading to sudden increases in blood pressure and the risk of drowning.

If people find themselves in trouble in the water, the RNLI advice is to try to float:

"Tilt your head back with your ears submerged, relax and try to breathe normally, move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat," said Nick Ayers, RNLI water safety lead.

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