When temperatures soar, there’s nothing nicer than a day at the beach and cooling off in the sea. Or a picnic near a picturesque river or lake and the chance to dip your toes into the water might appeal more. Many of us are happy to paddle in the shallows and enjoy the soothing sensation of the water. But while it may feel like one of life’s simple pleasures, it’s important to remember that open water, whether it’s a lake, river or ocean, is often much colder than you realise, even on the hottest days, and riptides and currents can be extremely dangerous.
In 2022 there were 226 deaths in the UK from accidental drowning and 46% of these took place
