Children from deprived backgrounds most at risk of drowning, worrying new data shows

Children from deprived backgrounds most at risk of drowning, worrying new data shows EXCLUSIVE: The Prime Minister has been told he must introduce a national drowning prevention strategy and appoint a dedicated Minister for Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Children from the most deprived backgrounds are being left behind when it comes to learning critical life-saving water safety skills, according to new research. After thousands of young people flocked to open water to cool off on the hottest day of the year so far, the Royal Life Saving Society UK has responded to the data by calling for a national government strategy to tackle the heartbreaking surge in deaths. The drowning prevention charity has told new Prime Minister now is the time to act and demanded he appoint a dedicated Minister for Water Safety and Drowning Prevention before any more lives are lost. The organisation also warned that inequalities in access to swimming education are increasing the risk of preventable water deaths, with stats showing almost three in ten children in year six cannot confidently swim 25 meters or perform safe self-rescue. For schools with the highest proportion of pupils receiving free school meals, on average only 55 per cent could swim 25 metres. Meanwhile, the schools with the lowest proportion of pupils receiving free school meals, on average 87 per cent of year six pupils, could confidently swim the distance. As relatives and friends of the summer victims come to terms with their unimaginable loss, the latest vitims were three members of the same family. Palestinian refugees Hassan El-Khawas, 55, his wife Zeina Alayn, 37, and their teenage daughter Sara El-Khawas, 14, all got into difficulty in the water off Shoreham-by-Sea last week. Simmy Ahktar, CEO of RLSS UK, told the Mirror that it is critical that PM Andy Burnham that he must introduce a national drowning prevention strategy and appoint a dedicated Minister for Water Safety and Drowning Prevention as soon as possible. “Drowning is a preventable public health issue, yet too many children are vulnerable due to unequal access to water safety education and swimming opportunities," she said following news of the a 40th tragedy. "Our recent Child Drownings Report revealed that around 33 children in England drown every year, equivalent to an entire classroom of children lost. Behind every statistic is a child, a family, loved ones, and a community devastated by a tragedy that could often have been prevented. “We are calling on the Government to introduce meaningful, systemic change to ensure every child has access to high-quality water safety education and opportunities to learn lifesaving skills. "A government-led national approach is urgently needed to tackle inequalities, improve awareness of water-related risks, and prevent avoidable deaths. Now is the time to act. We cannot afford to wait and lose more lives to drowning.” The plea comes as we reinforce the Mirror's Save Lives for Sam campaign message. Water-related deaths in the UK have spiked significantly during the sweltering summer weather and heatwaves, driven by people entering dangerous open water to combat the scorching conditions. Bereaved families and MPs are backing the Mirror’s campaign, named in memory of Sam Haycock, the 16-year-old boy who died in a reservoir in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, in 2021. With the rest of August expected to also be baking, it is feared many more could die during the summer holidays, unless something is done now with Olympic legends Becky Adlington and Tom Dean throwing their support behind our water safety drive.