Families urged to stay safe around water as Ireland enjoys rare heatwave

Irish Water Safety is warning families to play it safe in the current hot spell.

The organisation is advising people to swim at beaches with life guards if possible.

Five swimmers have drowned so far this year.

The IWS says 62% of drownings occur at inland waterways.

John Leech of Irish Water Safety said that parents need to be very vigilant near water.

"Children absolutely adore water, they want to be in there all the time," he said.

"Make sure you don't get distracted, really. Supervise them at all times, put down the Facebook and the Twitter account and your phone and concentrate on your children on the beach, or the lake or river, or wherever you're swimming."