With World Drowning Prevention Day coming up on 25th July, the Canal & River Trust, the waterways charity which cares for 2,000 miles of waterways across England and Wales, is urging people to stay out of inland waters in London and the South East during the hot weather.
With temperatures in the capital and surrounding areas already topping 35C this year, and with another heatwave forecast, the natural cooling effect of being near water means the Trust’s urban canals are popular places to be as the mercury rises – particularly during the school summer holidays.
So the Trust is urging visitors to be aware of the risks of getting into the water rather than simply spending time beside it. And while people might assume coastal waters present the greatest dangers, in fact some 57% of all accidental UK drownings in 2025 occurred at inland waters such as canals, rivers, lakes, quarries and reservoirs (1).
Locks and weirs are lovely places to spend time gongoozling – watching boats go by – and listening to the calming sounds of the water. However, when the weather warms people sometimes get into difficulties after jumping into the canals and rivers to cool down. Locks are not swimming pools and have hidden ‘shelves’, called cills, which can seriously injure someone should they jump in, whilst weirs have strong currents which can pull even the strongest swimmers under the water.
Anne Gardner-Aston, director of health & safety at the Canal & River Trust, explains: “Spending time on or by Britain’s waterways is a lovely way to spend a summer’s day and they are excellent places for families to explore during the school holidays. But it is also important that people, especially children and teenagers, are aware of the dangers of cooling off by going for a dip. The consequences can be devastating.
“Inland waterways, like canals, rivers, reservoirs and docks, can look really inviting but you can’t tell what is below the surface. Even if you are familiar with a stretch of water, it doesn’t mean there aren’t risks. The water often isn’t clear, and you will not be able to see the depth or any obstacles in the water. Everyone is welcome to the waterways this summer, but please keep to the waterside or swim at a lifeguarded location at the beach.”
If you do end up in the water and find yourself in difficulty, remember Float To Live (2):
Tilt your head back with ears submerged
Relax and try to control your breathing
Use your hands to help you stay afloat
It’s OK if your legs sink, we all float differently
If you see someone in difficulty in the water, remember Phone Float Throw (3):
PHONE 999 to get help
FLOAT – tell the struggling person to Float on their back
THROW the person rescue equipment or something which floats, such as an air-filled football
For tips on how to talk to teenagers and young people about water safety and staying safe near canals and rivers, go to: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/safety-on-our-waterways/water-safety-for-teenagers-and-young-people
For younger children, the Canal & River Trust ‘Explorers’ water safety programme, which focuses on children in Early Years and Key Stages 1 and 2 of the National Curriculum, aims to help children learn about and enjoy their local canal or river safely and can also be used towards several Cub Scout and Brownie badges. Dozens of volunteers nationwide help the Trust each year by visiting schools and speaking to youth groups about their local canal or river.
For more information, visit https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/explorers/water-safety
