Two fatal incidents in Cumbrian waters in eight days

  • Jamie Coward, Cumbria Fire and Rescue


Emergency services are urging people to take extreme care to avoid the dangers of open water during the hot weather this weekend. 

There have been several serious incidents in Cumbria's lakes and rivers over the last week, including two fatalities. Rescuers say they want to avoid anyone else coming to harm.

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) urged swimmers looking to cool off in the sweltering heat to take care in open water, saying it was aware of 17 incidents of accidental loss of life in the water across the UK, between July 17 and July 20 alone.

Meanwhile, the Coastguard has issued a plea for people to take care on Britain's coastline, following nine deaths in the past 10 days.

The warning has been issued as schools break up for summer and ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day on Sunday (July 25) which has been organised by the United Nations to highlight the issue.


The 3 main types of water-related accidents dealt by the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service are:

  • Rescue of people who didn't intend to go in the water

  • Rescue of people who were in the water intentionally and get into difficulty

  • Rescue of people who intentionally enter the water with the intent to harm themselves

You can follow the water safety campaign listed on their website.