Published: 11:27 BST, 19 August 2026 | Updated: 11:43 BST, 19 August 2026
Following the tragic drowning of three members of the same family on Shoreham beach, safety experts have urged people never to underestimate the risks of open waters.
The family were swimming in the choppy sea when a girl allegedly got caught in a fishing net, witnesses have claimed.
A man, a woman and a teenage girl have all been confirmed dead, while a young girl remains in critical condition.
Record-breaking hot weather across the UK this summer has triggered a sharp surge in accidental drownings.
Safety groups and rescue services report at least 35 water-related deaths since May, heavily affecting children and teenagers entering rivers, lakes and coastal waters during peak heatwave spikes.
Earlier this year, Mail on Sunday columnist and GP Dr Ellie Cannon warned that this is because many young people have never learned to swim.
She blamed several factors, including the Covid pandemic, meaning countless children missed out on crucial early swimming lessons, schools skipping swimming trips due to limited budgets and local pools being shut down.
In response to the recent spate of drownings, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has urged Britons to learn what to do in an emergency so you can help without putting yourself in danger.
Following the tragic drowning of three members of the same family on Shoreham beach, safety experts have urged people never to underestimate the risks of open waters
Three members of the same family died after getting into difficulty in the water at Shoreham-by-Sea yesterday afternoon
To stay safe at the beach, experts recommend swimming only when lifeguards are on duty whenever possible.
RNLI lifeguards patrol more than 240 beaches around the coasts of the UK and the Channel Islands.
They are highly trained, know the local water, tides and weather risks and reach people in trouble very quickly.
Look for the red and yellow flags that indicate where lifeguards are on duty.
