Open water warning after 200 river and lake rescues in four years

Firefighters have been involved in more than 200 river and lake rescues in North Yorkshire since the start of 2022, new figures have revealed, as a campaign is launched in the county on the risks of open water.

Adventurer, swim coach and lifeguard Jasmine Harrison, from Thirsk, is fronting the campaign which is aimed at young people and supported by North Yorkshire Council and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

She became the youngest woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean at the age of 21 and was the first woman to swim the full length of the British Isles.

There have been 19 accidental drownings in the county since 2022, with two teenagers among those to lose their lives in the past year, official figures show.

Warning signs have been put up at Richmond Falls this month after a number of incidents, including the death of a 12-year-old boy who drowned there last August.

Nationally, a series of deaths have been linked to water during the hot weather this year, with at least 19 people killed. Among them, a 13-year-old girl who died while in the River Wharfe, near Burnsall.

Ms Harrison, 27, who is preparing to swim the English Channel, is calling for greater awareness of the risks that cannot be seen when entering open water.

She said: “This campaign is so important to highlight the risks of open water, particularly rivers, as people simply aren’t aware of the hidden dangers.

“These might be submerged rocks, strong currents you can’t see on the surface, deep pools or sudden changes in the water depth under your feet. In a second, you can go from hip-high in the water to not being able to touch the floor and getting into trouble.

“Even as an extremely experienced swimmer, I take a lot of precautions before I enter any water. I always have a tow float, take time to understand the risk of each setting before going into the water and I am well-prepared with a plan and support.

“If I can help to prevent more tragedies by sharing these simple messages, it will be up there with my proudest achievements.”

Council leader Coun Carl Les, said the campaign is aimed specifically at young people.

“We want everyone to be able to enjoy all that North Yorkshire has to offer, but we want people to do that in an informed and safe way by being aware of the very real dangers that open water can present," he said. “The surface can look so calm and inviting but below that can be life-threatening risks.”

Among key parts of the campaign is cold water shock and the 'float principle', warning those in danger to tilt their head back and control their breathing.

And when someone is in trouble, it calls on those nearby to follow the 'call, tell, throw' principle (call 999, tell people in trouble to float on their back and throw something that floats) rather than entering the water themselves.

The county’s Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Garry Mackay, said: “Rivers, lakes and reservoirs may look calm and inviting, particularly during warm weather, but the risks beneath the surface can be life-threatening.

“Strong currents, hidden obstacles, sudden changes in depth and cold-water shock can quickly turn an enjoyable day out into an emergency."