Brighton Launches Find Your Float event for World Drowning Prevention Day
On World Drowning Prevention Day (July 25), the Brighton & Hove Coastal Water Safety Forum hosted an event at Sea Lanes, Madeira Drive, to raise awareness of drowning prevention and to promote “Find Your Float” – a national lifesaving campaign encouraging people to practise essential self-rescue.
- New data reveals young people aged 10–29 are most at risk of accidental drowning in the UK.
- Events are being held around the country to practice ‘finding your float’.
Data from the Water Incident Database (WAID) reveals that over a quarter (26%) of accidental drowning deaths in the UK from 2020 to 2024 involved young people aged 10 to 29 – making them the most at-risk group.*
Gabbi Batchelor said: ‘Warm weather has a known link to increased drowning risks, with studies showing that three times as many accidental drowning fatalities occur on days when air temperatures hit 25°C or higher.
‘Teenagers and young adults often head to the water to cool off, unaware of hidden dangers like cold shock, rip currents, and sudden drops.’
‘Floating is a simple, proven method for surviving if you find yourself unexpectedly in the water. It resists the urge to panic and helps people regain control of their breathing.’
How to Float to Live:
- Tilt your head back with ears submerged
- Relax and breathe normally
- Move hands and legs slowly to stay afloat
- It’s OK if your legs sink – everyone floats differently
- When calm, signal for help or swim to safety
Professor Mike Tipton, Chair of the National Water Safety Forum, said: ‘The ‘Find Your Float’ campaign helps equip people – especially young people – with simple, proven life-saving behaviours. Just a couple of hours learning to float could save decades of life.’
The RNLI is aware of more than 50 cases where floating has helped people secure valuable extra time before being rescued.
These include people like Julie Corbin, from Portsmouth.
Julie, an experienced swimmer, was caught in a dangerous rip current near Portsmouth despite calm surface conditions.
Julie said: ‘When I went into the water, it was like a millpond, but underneath there was a rip current. I was thrashing and panicking – then I remembered the RNLI’s ‘Float to Live’ advice. I lay back like a starfish, floated to the top, and was able to swim back to safety. Floating saved my life.’
Notes to editors
* Annual reports and data | National Water Safety Forum
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