Ireland’s water safety watchdog has called for compulsory water safety programmes in all schools after figures in its annual report showed a rise in the number of people who died by drowning.

More than 830 people were rescued from drowning by lifeguards at bathing sites around the Irish coast last year, with almost half of all such incidents taking place in Kerry.

Twenty-six rescuers and the 36 lives saved by their bravery were celebrated yesterday at the Irish Water Safety Awards, amid growing concern about the number of drownings by suicide.