The United Kingdom is experiencing a troubling increase in drowning deaths, particularly during recent heatwaves. Dr. Ellie Cannon, writing from her clinic experience, notes that nearly 30 people drowned during heatwaves in May and June. Among the victims were 13-year-old Palwasha Akbar, who died in a North Yorkshire river; 11-year-old Mackenzie Swift, who went missing in the River Don in South Yorkshire; and 12-year-old Junior Slater, who drowned while swimming in a Lancashire river.
Dr. Cannon links this rise to Britain's obesity crisis and a significant number of younger adults who report never learning to swim. While drownings were more frequent in the 1980s, a concerted government effort in subsequent decades, including water safety campaigns, increased lifeguards, and mandated school swimming lessons, led to a substantial decrease. Fatalities dropped from 637 in 1983 to 223 in 2019.
However, the trend reversed in recent years, with drownings rising to 254 in 2020 and 275 in 2021. An Oxford University analysis found that one in four children leave primary school unable to swim 25 meters. The COVID-19 pandemic is considered a major factor, as many children missed crucial early swimming lessons. Furthermore, the issue predates the pandemic, with schools often struggling to provide swimming lessons due to budget constraints and a decline in the number of public swimming pools.
Dr. Cannon also points to a societal shift, observing fewer children actively participating in swimming at local pools compared to her own childhood. She emphasizes that swimming is a vital form of exercise that benefits both immediate safety and long-term health. To address the issue, she proposes that primary school pupils be tested on their swimming proficiency before entering secondary school, with additional lessons offered to those who fail. She calls for greater government attention to this “madness” in a country focused on health and safety.
Separately, the article notes a related concern about the scarcity of public toilets, which is preventing people from leaving their homes. Facilities have dropped by 14 percent since 2016, creating “public toilet deserts” across the country, according to the Royal Society for Public Health. This issue disproportionately affects individuals with bladder or bowel problems, who fear being caught short without access to facilities.