During last month’s hot weather, at least 18 people died after getting into difficulty in the water across the UK, many of them teenagers. The deaths are part of a grim tally: 202 people died in accidental water-related incidents in 2025, according to the National Water Safety Forum. As temperatures rise again, water safety experts have issued simple tips to prevent further tragedies.
Steve Hall, a volunteer with lifeboat rescue charity Hornsea Rescue in East Yorkshire for nine years, has attended countless call-outs. He says many risks are avoidable with a few simple precautions. Hall and his daughters – aged nine and 11 and strong swimmers – prefer to stick to lifeguarded beaches or designated wild swimming areas rather than swimming in rivers and reservoirs. Swim England keeps a list of open water swimming locations.
“At least 18 died in UK waters during last month's heatwave; 202 died accidentally in 2025.”
But even seemingly calm inland waters can hide dangers. Becky Hickman, CEO of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, warns: “It’s really difficult to know what’s going on beneath the surface.” Fast-flowing currents, sharp rocks, debris, sudden drop-offs, or heavy machinery can lurk in reservoirs or canals.
At the coast, rip currents are a major threat. Hall says a rip current can quickly pull you away from shore, “and it doesn’t need to pull you very far, it just needs to pull you out of your depth.” He has rescued families who were only 30 yards from the beach but unable to get back after being caught in one. The RNLI advises swimming parallel to the shore to escape, not directly against it.
Swimming in open water is “very different to a swimming pool”, says Sarah Pennicard of the RNLI’s water safety team, because the water is cold, fast-flowing and unpredictable. Dave Oakley-Jenner, who carries out water rescues with North Cumbria Search and Rescue, adds that even strong swimmers should ensure they are in good physical condition. He warns: do not go in the water after drinking, taking drugs, eating a large meal, or with a hangover.
The experts’ resounding advice: the best place to swim is somewhere supervised. A list of UK beaches with lifeguards is available on the RNLI website. As Hall puts it, simple precautions can make the difference between a fun day out and a tragedy.