There are calls for increased safety to cut the number of accidental deaths on the country's waterways.
338 people drowned in the UK last year, according to the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF). 80% of victims were male. Most died walking or running near a river. Almost a third of deaths occurred by a coast or beach.
Men aged between 25-29 are a particular concern, with 29 dying in 2014. Children aged up to 19 account for just over one in 10 of all deaths, with 21 of those in the 15-19 age bracket. July saw the biggest spike in the number of deaths - 43, up from 20 in June and 29 in August. January was also a problem month, with 38 people killed.
George Rawlinson, chairman of the NWSF, said:
"It’s really positive that we’re starting to see a decline in the numbers of accidental drownings but any loss of life is tragic and there’s more that we can do to reduce these figures further. WAID provides vital insight that helps interested groups shape interventions to protect those people most at risk.
"The NWSF and their respective organisations work tirelessly to promote education and water safety and together are now developing a strategy that could be adopted nationally; this will provide an important framework for identifying how improvements in safety and education could be made to tackle this problem."
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