Rescue Crews Warn of Deadly Cold-Water Shock as County Swelters

Published on: 25 Jul, 2019
Updated on: 25 Jul, 2019

By Rebecca Curley

local democracy reporter

Drowning causes more deaths in Surrey than those in accidental house fires. In the past five years, 20 people have died in water-related accidents.

With the temperatures hovering just under 40C this week, rescue crews and volunteers have issued safety warnings as residents tend to cool off in rivers, lakes, canals and reservoirs across the county.

But they are being warned that particularly in open water cold-water shock can kick in swiftly, with vital organs starting to shut down and even strong swimmers face risks and dangers.

Paul Kenny, group commander for Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), said: “People think that because the weather is lovely and warm the water will be lovely and warm.” But he said the reality is water temperatures rarely go above 12C.

SFRS crews were joined by ambulance, police and search and rescue teams at Virginia Water Lake on Sunday (July 21) to highlight the dangers and demonstrate rescue operations.

Roger Childs, SFRS assistant chief fire officer, said: “Over the past five years there have been 20 water deaths in Surrey which is tragic. We are trying to educate people more about how they can enjoy the water safely. We are not telling people to not go swimming.”

Between 2010 and 2017, 34 people drowned in Surrey’s rivers and lakes and SFRS has attended more than 250 incidents. Fire service records show that 33 people died in accidental house fires in that period

Increasing the role of prevention work is one of the aims of the transformation of the fire service in Surrey. As well as water safety, crews will be focusing on young drivers and road collisions.

Surrey has water-rescue stations based at Sunbury and Walton fire stations where multi-skilled firefighters are based. Water-trained officers are also based at Egham, Esher and Painshill.