The RNLI has today announced seven people claimed a ‘floating’ technique helped save their life in 2017, after the charity advocated this as a key survival skill last summer.

Coastal fatality figures released today, show 18 people lost their lives on the south west of England coast in 2017 (33 in 2016).

Over half (61%) did not intend to enter the water and all of the fatalities were men.

As the RNLI’s national drowning prevention campaign Respect the Water enters its fifth year, the charity is urging anyone who finds themselves in trouble in cold water to stay calm and ‘float’. 

Steve Instance of the RNLI said: ‘Losing someone to drowning is a shattering experience, so I am very pleased several people said the RNLI’s Respect the Water ‘float’ advice  helped them survive in a dangerous situation in the water last year.’

This year the charity is calling on the public to practice the ‘float’ survival skill and to share this lifesaving knowledge with others.

If you get into trouble in cold water, the RNLI’s advice is to float on your back for a short time to regain control of your breathing.

Mike Tipton, Professor of Human and Applied Physiology at the University of Portsmouth, and world leading expert in cold water shock explains: ‘The instinctive human reaction on immersion in cold water is a potential killer as this can cause panic and thrashing around, increasing the chances of breathing in water. This also lets trapped air escape from clothing, reducing buoyancy.

‘Although it’s counter intuitive, the best immediate course of action is to fight your instinct and float on your back. Once you’ve gained control of your breathing you can swim to safety, call for help, or continue to float until help arrives.’

The Respect the Water campaign will run throughout the summer with advertising across cinema, outdoor posters, radio, online, and catch-up TV channels. The RNLI is asking people to visit RNLI.org/RespectTheWater where they will find information on floating. On social media search #RespectTheWater #FloatToLive.