The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has launched a new safety campaign urging people to remember to float if they get into trouble in the water. This comes after 193 accidental drowning deaths were recorded in the UK in 2024, according to the charity's data.
Key statistics from 2024 drowning fatalities
Of the 193 accidental drowning deaths, 84% were male, and the highest number of drownings occurred among 20 to 29-year-olds. The RNLI launched its Float to Live campaign on Tuesday at The Wave surfing facility in Bristol, highlighting the lifesaving technique for those who find themselves in difficulty in the water.
The importance of floating
The charity explains that floating gives individuals a chance to rest and recover their breathing. Emmie Seward Adams, from the RNLI water safety delivery support team, said: "Instinctively, most people who find themselves struggling in the water will begin to panic, swim or thrash about. We're urging people to ignore this instinct and remember 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 if you need to. It's fine if your legs sink – we all float differently. By doing this, you give yourself the chance to rest and recover your breathing. Once you've regained control of your breathing, you can call for help or swim to safety."
Celebrity endorsement and real-life survival story
TV presenter and adventurer Jordan Wylie helped launch the campaign alongside RNLI lifeguards. He said: "If you remember one thing this summer when heading to the coast, make sure it's the RNLI's Float to Live advice. This simple technique really could save your life if you get into trouble in the water."
The charity highlighted the story of 22-year-old Euan, whose life was saved by the technique last summer while surfing at Longsands beach in Tynemouth with his brother Andrew, 20. Euan saw his brother being pulled towards a rip current and ran in to help. Euan recalled: "It was easy to swim out to my brother but really hard to swim back against the rip. I had a word with my brother and said we need to swim hard or we'll be in trouble. As we tried to swim, we just weren't getting anywhere, it was like swimming on a treadmill."
The brothers ended up on different sides of the rip current, being pulled further apart until they could not see each other. Euan said he thought they might drown but remembered the Float to Live technique and floated on his back as he waited for a lifeboat to arrive. The crew rescued Euan and told him his brother had managed to get back to shore safely.
RNLI's call to action
The RNLI reminded the public to call 999 if they see someone struggling in the water and to tell the person to stay calm and float on their back.
