A prominent water safety organization has commended Keir Starmer for supporting the Mirror’s Save Lives for Sam initiative and urged the Prime Minister to devise a plan of action before summer arrives. The Prime Minister has promised government assistance in response to 19 water-related fatalities, including 13 children, during the recent heatwave. The Royal Life Saving Society expressed gratitude to the Labour leader for his involvement in the cause.
Simmy Akhtar, the charity’s CEO, emphasized the significance of the Prime Minister’s commitment to preventing future drownings. Acknowledging the PM’s pledge during the Royal Life Saving Society UK’s Drowning Prevention Week, Akhtar highlighted the need for prompt action through a convened roundtable meeting before the summer holidays, a critical period for water-related incidents.
As temperatures soar and beach visits increase, the charity’s plea coincides with the Met Office issuing an amber extreme heat warning for certain regions in England and Wales. Keir Starmer voiced his support for the Mirror’s water safety campaign, expressing deep concern over the tragic deaths, particularly those involving children.
During the G7 summit in France, Starmer affirmed his dedication to bolstering the campaign and implementing additional safety measures to protect everyone, especially children. The Save Lives for Sam campaign aims to prevent the deaths of 33 children annually in open water across the country, with a recent surge in fatalities during the heatwave underscoring the urgency for action.
Named after Sam Haycock, a teenager who drowned in 2021, the campaign has garnered significant momentum, with demands for public awareness initiatives, safety equipment installations, water survival education in schools, the appointment of a Minister for Water Safety, and stricter legislation against safety equipment vandalism. Labour MP Lee Pitcher lauded Starmer’s personal commitment and urged the adoption of Sam’s Law without delay.
Pitcher, alongside Simon Haycock and Vanessa Abbess, is actively lobbying for the campaign at Parliament, supported by various organizations and prominent figures in the water safety sector. A recent report by the Royal Lifesaving Society UK highlighted the preventability of nearly 90% of child drownings. The call for immediate action to enhance water safety measures is gaining traction, with cross-party and public support driving the campaign forward.