The Duke of Cambridge launched a campaign calling on the public to intervene to prevent accidents and suicide on the River Thames.
The multi-agency campaign aims to tackle the 700 incidents and 30 deaths a year caused by accidents on London’s river.
The Drowning Prevention Strategy covers a 95 mile stretch from Teddington to the river’s outlet at the North Sea.
The public is being asked to call 999 and ask for the coastguard if they see someone in distress.
They are being encouraged to do the same if they are worried someone might attempt to take their life.
The strategy also asks members of the public to engage people in conversation if the spot someone who may be about to attempt suicide.
The Duke of Cambridge joins the campaign
Prince William joined Jonny Benjamin MBE, a mental health campaigner who was going to take his life through drowning a decade ago.
Neil Laybourn, the man who engaged Jonny in conversation and convinced him to come to safety also helped launch the campaign.
Mr Laybourn was reunited with the man he helped years later, after Mr Benjamin launched a campaign to find him.
There were 30 deaths on the Thames last year, not all due to self-harm. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) are also called out to over 700 life-threatening incidents on the river every year.
They hope the campaign will help cut the number of incidents on the River Thames, and reduce the number of injuries and fatalities.
Part of the Thames RNLI team that met the Duke of Cambridge today. Credit: RNLI/Paul Dunt.
Mark Towens, is the PLA Harbour Master for the River Thames:
“Factors such as the impact of cold-water-shock mean that people who end up in the tidal Thames, for whatever reason, can drown in a matter of minutes.
“It’s vital we all work together to stop people entering the river in the first place.”
The RNLI say people would need to swim at twice the speed of an Olympic swimmer to overcome the tide in the River Thames.
They recommend anyone who has fallen in stays calm and follows their ‘Float to Survive’ campaign’s advice.
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HeadlineDuke of Cambridge launches Thames anti-drowning strategy
Short HeadlineRoyal launches anti-drowning strategy
StandfirstPrince William wants the public to intervene if they see someone in distress.
The Duke of Cambridge launched a campaign calling on the public to intervene to prevent accidents and suicide on the River Thames.
The multi-agency campaign aims to tackle the 700 incidents and 30 deaths a year caused by accidents on London’s river.
The Drowning Prevention Strategy covers a 95 mile stretch from Teddington to the river’s outlet at the North Sea.
The public is being asked to call 999 and ask for the coastguard if they see someone in distress.
They are being encouraged to do the same if they are worried someone might attempt to take their life.
The strategy also asks members of the public to engage people in conversation if the spot someone who may be about to attempt suicide.
The Duke of Cambridge joins the campaign
Prince William joined Jonny Benjamin MBE, a mental health campaigner who was going to take his life through drowning a decade ago.
Neil Laybourn, the man who engaged Jonny in conversation and convinced him to come to safety also helped launch the campaign.
Mr Laybourn was reunited with the man he helped years later, after Mr Benjamin launched a campaign to find him.
There were 30 deaths on the Thames last year, not all due to self-harm. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) are also called out to over 700 life-threatening incidents on the river every year.
They hope the campaign will help cut the number of incidents on the River Thames, and reduce the number of injuries and fatalities.
Part of the Thames RNLI team that met the Duke of Cambridge today. Credit: RNLI/Paul Dunt.
Mark Towens, is the PLA Harbour Master for the River Thames:
“Factors such as the impact of cold-water-shock mean that people who end up in the tidal Thames, for whatever reason, can drown in a matter of minutes.
“It’s vital we all work together to stop people entering the river in the first place.”
The RNLI say people would need to swim at twice the speed of an Olympic swimmer to overcome the tide in the River Thames.
They recommend anyone who has fallen in stays calm and follows their ‘Float to Survive’ campaign’s advice.
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