West Midlands swimming clubs share warning after loss of precious children in water during heatwave
Swimming clubs in Wolverhampton and Albrighton have warned parents to keep their children in swimming lessons following tragic deaths across the country.
Two West Midlands swimming groups have issued a warning to parents after children have died across the country in water-related incidents during the heatwave.
The clubs in Wolverhampton and Albrighton have warned parents to keep their children in swimming lessons to teach them the life skills that could help prevent drowning deaths.
A spokesperson for Salamanda Swimming Club, Wolverhampton said: “10 children. 10 precious lives lost during this hot weather — and we are not even out of May yet. Read that again.
“Swimming is not ‘just another hobby.’ It is a LIFE SKILL. In reality, it may be the one activity that could save your child’s life one day.
“Nothing frightens me more than hearing parents pull their children out of swimming lessons: To focus on football. To take up cricket. To do dance or tennis. Because they’ve ‘done enough’ after swimming 25m — one length of a pool.
“One length does NOT make a child water safe. Children need confidence. They need stamina. They need survival skills. They need to know what to do when panic hits, when they fall in unexpectedly, when exhaustion takes over.
“Drowning is silent. It is fast. And it does not care how sporty or talented your child is. Please — keep your children swimming. Not for medals. Not for badges. For their LIFE.”
To which, Albrighton & District Swimming Club reposted with the caption: “So true, Salamanda Swimming Club!”
It comes after the death of a 16-year-old girl named locally as Lillianna Tomlinson. Her body was recovered from water at Kingsbury Water Park, near Sutton Coldfield, shortly after 7.20pm on May 25. Despite the best efforts of emergency service crews, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
She was one of 11 water-related deaths across the UK. Today (May 28), the body of a 14-year-old boy has been recovered from the River Thames making him the 11th person to die in water-related incidents during the recent heatwave.
The hot weather is expected to continue over the coming days, before easing over the weekend, according to the Met Office.
Thursday will feel “very warm” for many, particularly in the South East, where areas such as London are expected to see highs of 31C, the forecaster said.
A yellow heat health alert has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSE) for eastern and south-east England and London, running from 4pm on Thursday until 8pm on Saturday.
The UKHSA said it means water-related incidents could increase, and warned of the risks from cold-water shock and drowning.
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