You don’t have to fall in to know you were close. Sliding down a muddy bank, towards the water, rod in one hand, bait bag in the other, heart doing that little flutter as the water edges a bit too close. One second of clumsiness and you’re in. Clothes soaked. Pride gone. If you're lucky, that's all it is. But every year, for a few anglers, it’s not.
This week marks the Royal Life Saving Society’s Drowning Prevention Week, and for the first time, they’ve teamed up with the Angling Trust to get a simple message across, that being near water is risky business, even for those of us who spend most of our time sat next to it.
It's a reminder that even the most experienced angler can get caught out when the conditions turn or the bank gives way, or you lean just a bit too far to free a snagged hook from bankside vegetation.
Based on the Water Accident Incident Database (WAID) statistics over a five-year period (2018-2022) from the National Water Safety Forum:
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In the last 5 years, 41 people in the UK accidentally lost their life to drowning whilst angling.
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68% of these accidental fatalities occurred inland, 32% at the coast.
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49% of accidental fatalities of those angling, occurred on a Saturday or Sunday.
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In 98% of cases the person unexpectedly fell or was swept into the water.
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98% of those that lost their lives were male.
We simply don’t think about it. Not properly. We pack our gear, check our line, maybe even bring a flask and a sandwich. But throw in some heavy rain the night before, a slippery wooden platform, and a gust of wind, and suddenly your quiet day on the bank looks a lot more like an accident waiting to happen.
The Royal Life Saving Society and Angling Trust are urging every angler to take five minutes this week to think about the basics. Things like making sure your phone is in a waterproof pouch, letting someone know where you’re fishing, and, yes, in some situations, even wearing a lifejacket, especially on tidal rivers, or when you're wading.
If you’ve got children or grandchildren who fish, have the chat. They may roll their eyes, but they’ll remember it when it matters. If you're teaching someone to fish this summer, show them how to stay safe as well as how to cast a float.
You don’t need to wrap yourself in bubble wrap and fish from a chair ten feet from the bank. Just keep your wits about you. Give the water the respect it deserves. And remember that no fish is worth risking a swim you didn’t plan on.
Drowning Prevention Week runs from June 15 to June 22. The Angling Trust are helping to spread the word through their clubs, coaches and venues.
Let’s just stay safe, keep fishing, and make sure we’re all safe on the bank or in the boat next weekend.
For more information on water safety and how to support Drowning Prevention Week, visit www.rlss.org.uk or check out the Angling Trust’s advice for anglers at www.anglingtrust.net.
