“A year on, the impact of Zac's death is still palpable within our community” said a Pembrokeshire mum on World Drowning Prevention Day after teaming up with ‘Water Safety Wales’ to help prevent other families from enduring the tragedy she suffered after losing her son last summer.

As schools break for the summer, Water Safety Wales, a collaboration of around 40 organisations in Wales with an interest in water safety is keen to raise to educate families in water safety, and as part of the strategy, an educational event is being held today (July 25) at Llyn-y-Fran on World Drowning Prevention Day aimed at promoting safe use of open water this summer.

The event will be attended by Carli Newell, a 36-year-old mother of two boys from Pembrokeshire, who lost her 11-year-old son Zac Thompson in summer 2022. She is now committed to working with Water Safety Wales to raise awareness of the risks.

Pembroke Dock pupil Zac was at the coast on Angle beach with his family and friends observing the sunset last summer when an unexpected wave forcefully swept him under the water. He sadly died in hospital the following day.

Carli, who has established the charity Forever 11 to raise awareness of water safety in Zac’s memory said: “A year on, the impact of Zac's death is still palpable within our community. Zac remains affectionately remembered by all who knew him, with several memorial matches held in the sports he adored, a tradition that will endure for years to come.

“Zac possessed an infectious personality; funny, cheeky, intelligent, kind, and extremely courageous. Despite his small stature, he emanated a larger-than-life aura, drawing people towards him.”

Carli is calling on families to make safety their priority, adding: “In Wales we are blessed with fantastic beaches, bays, harbours, lagoons and inland waters, the significance of water safety and education regarding appropriate actions during emergencies cannot be overstated.

“The evidence presented in this report makes clear that more can be done to reduce water-related fatalities in children and young people in Wales and safeguard them as they revel in and respect the water. I urge everyone to consider what more they can do to help children and young people enjoy the water safely.”

The collaboration comes as Public Health Wales, ROSPA and Water Safety Wales launch a joint report which reveals there were 62 non-intentional water-related fatalities in Wales in children and young people under 25 years of age between 2013 and 2022.

In light of the report findings that drowning is the second most common cause of non-intentional injury fatalities in children under 18 years of age in Wales, after transport related fatalities.1, it is hoped the event will highlight the risks.

The report has revealed:

• Almost half of all fatalities occurred during June, July and August, and Sunday was the most common day.

• 79% of the children and young people were male.

• Over half of the fatalities occurred in the 18-24 years age group, even though the proportion of young people in this age group account for less than one third of the population of children and young people aged 0-24 years of age.

• Almost half of the children and young people were taking part in activities where they had not intended entering the water when the fatal incident occurred.

• A third of fatalities occurred in a river and a third occurred at the coast, shore or beach.

Public Health Wales’ Child Death Review Programme, Water Safety Wales and RoSPA noted five deaths of children under 18 years of age from drowning in 2022 which was higher than in previous years, which led to them working in partnership to produce the report.

Chris Cousens, Chair of Water Safety Wales said: “The aim of this report is to help inform the preventative work of water safety professionals in Wales to prevent future deaths of children and young people from water-related fatalities.

“The death of a child or young person has devastating and life changing impacts on families and the wider community. We are incredibly grateful to Carli for her strength and determination to make a difference in memory of Zac.

“It is sobering to reveal the almost half of the children and young people were taking part in activities where they had not intended entering the water, just like Zac when the fatal incident occurred. We are hoping the release of this report will encourage families to be aware of the risks and be mindful of the dangers of open water.’

During the event on World Drowning Prevention day, Water Safety Wales representatives will be speaking to members of the public and encouraging families to try popular sports such as Stand Up Paddleboarding and Open Water Swimming, with experts on hand to offer advice. There will also be a demonstration by XX, to ensure the public are aware of the role of the emergency services and how to enlist their help in an emergency.

Chris added: “With the summer holidays upon us, we want people to continue to enjoy the water, but by highlighting the risks, we want people to be aware of their surroundings, be well equipped and know exactly what to do should they get into trouble.”

Water Safety Wales’ key safety advice for children and young people to remember is:

• Stop and think - Is it a safe place to swim? Are there hazards beneath the water? Are there hidden currents or fast-flowing water? How deep is it and can you get out easily?

• Stay together - Always go with someone else

• Float - If you get into trouble in the water, float to live until you feel calm

• Call 999 or 112 - If you see someone else in trouble in the water

Dr Rosalind Reilly, Consultant in Public Health for the Child Death Review Programme at Public Health Wales, said: “Drowning is the second most common cause of non-intentional injury fatalities in children under 18 years of age in Wales, after transport related fatalities.

“Very sadly, there were five deaths of children under 18 years old in Wales in 2022, so the Child Death Review Programme (CDRP) has worked with Water Safety Wales and RoSPA in order to produce this report examining water-related fatalities in children and young people under 25 between 2013 and 2022.

“Previous reviews undertaken by the CDRP into deaths by drowning have resulted in action being taken, including the development of a Wales-wide water safety forum, Water Safety Wales, which has developed a wide range of drowning prevention and water safety activities aimed at children and young people in Wales.

“Clearly, the death of a child or young person has devastating and life changing impacts on families and the wider community. This report will inform the work of water safety professionals, in order to prevent the same thing happening to others.’

Scarlets rugby players Josh Macleod and Macs Page will also be in attendance to help spread the important water safety messages.

Safety concerns over youngsters and adults alike jumping off the end of Tenby harbour pier resurfaced ahead of the summer, with a decision made by the Local Authority and partner agencies to now close off the area during high tides.

Campaigns such as ‘Be Water Aware’ and ‘Respect The Water’ have continued to spread the safety message in recent years, highlighting hidden dangers of swimming and jumping in the harbour area.

The act of ‘tombstoning’ is considered dangerous because of the risk of hitting water from a height and that posed by underwater hazards such as rocks and shallow water.

The concerns of people jumping off the end of the pier at Tenby harbour which has been highlighted many times before by emergency rescue services, Dyfed-Powys Police, local councillors and also boat operators, was reaffirmed once again over the Whitsun holidays, with a high volume of youngsters attracted to the harbour area, causing notable serious safety issues.

And its not just the action of jumping off the pier end that raised concerns, with reports of some climbing onto roofs of properties in the vicinity, subsequently causing damage and then jumping into the sea from a neighbouring building.

Roger Miles, one of Tenby’s boat skippers explained the concerns amongst his fellow ‘boatmen’ at a previous ‘Breakwater’ safety event at the harbour about the risk participants pose to themselves and others by jumping off the pier, and other vantage points around the seaside town’s harbour and beaches.

“For boat owners when we have to manoeuvre a vessel in and out of the harbour carrying a large crowd of passengers then our focus is on their safety, yet there are kids still choosing to jump into the water off the pier who end up swimming around the boats,” he explained.

“We know that they’re trying to have fun but it causes big concerns for us boat operators.

“Young people may think that boats can stop immediately but they are not like cars.

“The worst scenario is someone could clank their head against the bow of the boat, go under and connect with the propeller and it could make mince meat out of someone.

“It’s only a matter of time before something tragic happens, and everyone would have to live with something like that,” added Roger.