Drowning is preventable, but an average of 328 UK and Irish Citizens lose their life to accidental drowning each year. 

Together with your support, we can amplify our water safety education messages and make a positive change. Thank you for your ongoing support. 

10 drowning facts 

1. Over 1,600 people have accidentally drowned in the UK and Ireland in the last 5 years.
2. Only 46% of those that accidentally drowned in the UK intended to be in the water.
3. 63% of accidental drownings in open water in the UK occur inland, in places like rivers and lakes.
4. 47% of UK accidental drownings occur between May and August.
5. 82% of people that accidentally drown in the UK are male.
6. A third (37%) of accidental drownings in the UK occur at the weekend.
7. Alcohol/drugs are present in 22% of UK accidental drownings.
8. There are 3x as many accidental drownings in the UK during extreme heat compared to a typical summer’s day.
9. An average of 82 UK citizens drown abroad each year*.
10. Child drowning deaths in England have doubled in the last 5 years.^

Drowning is preventable.  We provide expert lifesaving education in the UK and Ireland, protecting families from the sudden and devastating impact of drowning.

Notes: Unless otherwise stated, UK data taken from WAID (2020-2024). Note data from 2020-2023 was enhanced in 2024 and may differ from earlier releases. Irish data taken from Water Safety Ireland (2020-2024). These numbers do not include UK or Irish nationals drowning overseas. ~ Extreme heat defined as when UK average maximum air temperatures are at or above 25°C. A typical summer’s day refers to the long-term UK average maximum air temperature of 18.9°C. *FCDO 2022-2023 data. ^ Source: National Child Mortality Database (NCMD), June 2025.