Saskia Rowlands

Eighteen families bereaved by drowning have signed an open letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham calling for the appointment of a dedicated Water Safety Minister. The appeal follows at least 56 reported drownings in the UK in 2026, including 34 people aged 18 or under, and recalls a week in May when 19 people died in accidental water-related incidents. Families describe preventable deaths involving rip currents, cold-water shock, reservoirs, rivers and beaches, and demand stronger education, warning signs, safety equipment, public-awareness campaigns and support for emergency services. The RNLI and Royal Life Saving Society UK support the call, while the government points to the National Water Safety Forum’s new prevention strategy and urges caution around open water.