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Andy Burnham backs Mirror water safety campaign as drownings spike in hot weather

EXCLUSIVE: Prime Minister Andy Burnham said it was vital for people to understand the dangers of open water swimming and credited our 'Save Lives for Sam' campaign for raising awareness

Andy Burnham has thrown his weight behind the Mirror's water safety campaign after dozens of people lost their lives in a horrifying spate of drownings.

The Prime Minister said it was vital that people understood the dangers of open water swimming and credited our 'Save Lives for Sam' campaign for raising awareness.

Some 40 people have lost their lives after getting into difficulty in open water across the UK since May 24, with successive heatwaves driving people to seek respite from scorching temperatures.

Mr Burnham joined the backers of the Mirror's campaign, named in memory of Sam Haycock, a 16-year-old boy who drowned in a reservoir in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, in 2021.

[PM Andy Burnham has backed the Mirror's campaign for better water safety after a spate of drownings]

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PM Andy Burnham has backed the Mirror's campaign for better water safety after dozens of people lost their lives in open water(Image: JASON ALDEN/POOL/EPA/Shutterstock)

The Prime Minister told us: "I do back your campaign, and I give great credit to The Mirror, so often a campaigning newspaper, but rightly so on this issue... It's really important that people understand the dangers of open water swimming, particularly if people are not regular swimmers, it can cause real issues.

"Water safety measures around is part of it. It's also about making sure, as part of the curriculum, kids get the right swimming support, and that's I think a key part of the campaign.

"I really support what the Mirror are doing. I remember from my time as [Greater Manchester] Mayor when those incidents happen, they're so tragic."

He went on: "It's enticing sometimes to think of jumping in, but it's the coldness and the shock of that that makes people lose their breath and then struggle, and it can happen so quickly.

"Credit to The Mirror; it's a really important campaign, and I would just ask everybody to listen to what you're calling for, make these changes, but also take great care. Enjoy the summer, but take great care."

The Mirror has joined forces with bereaved families and lifesaving charities to call for drowning to be treated as a national emergency. Olympic legends Becky Adlington and Tom Dean, and elite swimmer and TV presenter Michael Gunning have also given it their backing.

Our campaign calls for 'Sam's Law' to make it a legal requirement for safety equipment to be installed around high risk large bodies of water.

Other demands include an urgent public awareness campaign, action to make it an aggravated criminal offence to damage or steal safety equipment, and pressure on water companies and those in control of high risk bodies of water to provide proper safety equipment. A Minister for Water Safety must also be appointed in England, as in Wales and Scotland.

Sam's dad, Simon Haycock said: "I'm over the moon that Andy Burnham has decided to back our campaign. Hopefully this will progress it and see it over the line.

"It's been relentless this summer, it just keeps coming and coming. It's really heart breaking. We need to keep the momentum going now."

[Young boy in black puffer jacket smiles]

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Sam Haycock, 16, died after jumping into a reservoir in 2021(Image: Haycock family)

[Joe Abbess drowned after getting caught in a rip current in 2023]

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Joe Abbess, 17, drowned after getting caught in a rip current in 2023(Image: Vanessa Abbess)

Vanessa Abbess, who has been campaigning in memory of her 17-year-old son Joe who drowned in a rip current in Bournemouth in 2023, said multiple drowning tragedies should be treated as a public health emergency.

She said: "I am delighted to hear that Andy Burnham supports the Save Lives for Sam campaign. It is encouraging to hear that he understands the importance of water safety education.

"I hope he will act quickly to appoint a Water Safety Minister, who would lead the government's drowning prevention initiatives, with cross-sector collaboration and bereaved family support."

Save Lives for Sam - our demands

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Together, we are all calling for:

1. The Government to launch an urgent public awareness campaign ahead of the summer holidays which targets parents and children on TikTok and other social media platforms. This should include lifesaving techniques and advice such as avoid diving into the water and information on cold water shock.
2. Water companies and those in control of high risk large water bodies, to do the right thing by bringing in the correct safety equipment.
3. Compulsory lessons in schools (ahead of the holidays) on how to survive if you get into difficulty in the water, which should include the Water Safety Code, the RNLI Float to Live campaign, and Phone-Float-Throw bystander advice.
4. Put in place Sams Law. We urge the Government to make it law that safety equipment should be installed around high risk large bodies of water and make damaging this safety equipment an aggravated criminal offence to damage or steal this safety equipment. Currently it is already a criminal offence under theft or criminal damage but the penalties are low for these very minor offences.
5. And finally the appointment of a Minister for Water Safety, as they have in Wales and Scotland, as drowning must be accepted as a preventable public health issue.

She added: "Anyone can drown, no-one should, but I strongly believe through mass public service messaging and education, lives can be saved"

Ashley Jones, of the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS UK), said: RLSS UK is pleased to hear of the Prime Ministers support for the campaign, and his recognition of water safety education and drowning prevention as important issues that need action to prevent future tragedies.

"Drowning is a preventable public health issue, and a broad systems approach is required to reduce the number of lives lost."

He called for schools to get proper funding to deliver swimming and water safety education in England, which has been pledged in Scotland and Wales.

He added: We look forward to seeing action from the Government that follows up on the PMs words. RLSS UK is keen to collaborate and together implement real change to save lives.

Ross MacLeod RNLI Water Safety Manager said: Congratulations to Simon Haycock and all the families who have supported the Save Lives for Sam campaign. Their courage and determination in turning personal tragedy into positive action is helping to keep drowning prevention firmly in the national conversation.

I welcome the Prime Ministers support for this important campaign and encourage the Government to build on those commitments by taking forward the campaigns recommendations, including appointing a minister with responsibility for water safety.

Through the UK and National Water Safety Forums, we stand ready to work alongside Government and partners to improve water safety and help prevent drownings this summer and for years to come.

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