Stay safe in water this weekend, urge campaigners

Water safety campaigners have reminded everyone out enjoying themselves by the water to be careful over the August bank holiday weekend.

A worrying 80% of drownings occur close to the victim’s home, according to Irish Water Safety, so they are asking for people to be vigilant even in familiar waters. Drownings can occur very quickly and silently, so swimming in quiet isolated area can be risky, they warned.

The main group at risk of drowning are men aged between 20-59, and alcohol is a factor behind a “third of all adult deaths in the water”, a spokesman noted. In fact, out of the total 122 people who drowned in Irish waters last year, 91 were male.