Mission to ‘eradicate scourge of drowning’ after deaths surge across England

Strategy will tackle ‘public health disaster’ that claims more lives than fire, flooding or knife crime

A national strategy to address the “public health disaster” of drowning has been launched in England – hours after two women died at an Essex beach, the latest in a surge of water-related tragedies.

Among the measures being considered are: providing every child in England with water safety education and swimming lessons; establishing how climate change can increase risks; and media campaigns to inform bystanders how to respond to a potential drowning.