Photo courtesy of Jonathan Buckmaster for the Mirror

19/06/2026

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) has welcomed Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s comments to the Daily Mirror at the G7 Summit on Thursday, where he said:

 “Look, let me firstly back your campaign. I think just seeing and hearing of those fatalities during the heatwave, the hot weather, was really deeply concerning, and as a dad with two kids, particularly when it involves children or young people, it's really hard, I think, for all of us to see.

“I just feel so profoundly for the family and friends of those who lost their lives, really feel it's hard to imagine what it must be like to lose a child in that way, and there were quite a number of them as well. I was quite struck by that.

“So, I think, yeah, whatever we can do to support your campaign and to take any such further measures as we can to keep everybody safe, but I think, particularly, it was the children that unfortunately lost their lives that probably affected all of us.”

The Prime Minister’s comments followed the all-time high half-term heatwave that led to 19 children and adults drowning in one week.

Simmy Akhtar, Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Life Saving Society UK, said:

“We welcome such a strong commitment from the Prime Minister and his Government to do ‘everything they can’ to prevent future drownings. As a Charity with the purpose ‘To prevent drowning, so everyone can enjoy water safely’, we are particularly pleased that the PM chose to make this commitment during the Royal Life Saving Society UK’s Drowning Prevention Week.

“Our new report, published on Tuesday, Child Drownings in England: An Overlooked Public Health Issue, highlighted the stark inequalities of drowning and the fact that almost every drowning could have been prevented. We joined MPs, bereaved families, and campaigners outside Parliament to call on the Government to act now. The Prime Minister has now made a commitment in the strongest possible terms, recognising the sheer tragedy of every life lost to drowning. This moment is pivotal, and the Prime Minister’s leadership will save lives. He must now convene an urgent roundtable meeting to agree on an action plan before the summer holidays, which is when most drownings happen.”

View the Child Drownings in England: An Overlooked Public Health Issue Report here

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