River Thames safety taught after recent deaths

Children are taught about the danger of the river Thames following a series of water-related deaths during recent heatwaves.

The Port of London Authority (PLA), which manages part of the river through London, said its See the River, See the Risk safety campaign comes after more than 20 such deaths across the UK during the May and late-June hot weather spells.

Last week, a 13-year-old boy died after getting into difficulty in the water at Royal Victoria Dock in east London.

Robin Mortimer, chief executive of the PLA, said the campaign was "borne out of tragedy" but hoped it would help young people "recognise risk before a situation goes wrong".

The scheme is aimed at 10 to 16-year-olds across London, Kent and Essex and comes ahead of the school holidays when young people are likely to be spending more time out and about.

Mortimer added: "Based on what young people told us, many already know the Thames can be dangerous, but that risk is not always front of mind when they are with friends, under pressure, or caught up in the moment."

The PLA, which manages 95 miles of the tidal Thames to the east of Teddington Lock, warns that familiarity with a body of water can sometimes make the river easy to underestimate.

The Thames can flow at speeds of up to 5mph, while water levels can rise and fall by as much as seven metres due to the tide.

Figures from the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) suggest London saw an 80% increase in the child drowning rate between 2020-2022 and 2023-2025, with more than 100 accidental drownings recorded across the capital since 2020.

The PLA campaign will be supported by free interactive guidance, activity packs and educational tools, which will be distributed to schools across the capital.

As part of the drive, the PLA has produced a short film in the style of a "day in the life" social media video.

It follows a group of young people near the Thames and shows how quickly a familiar riverside setting can turn dangerous.

The campaign comes days after the launch of the mayor of London's first dedicated heat plan, Heat Ready London, which included calls for greater access to rivers, canals and docks as the capital adapts to hotter summers.

These sites would be designated for swimming - but the PLA said the messaging must be clear about where is safe to swim.

It must also be clear the Thames is a working river, with hazards that can turn deadly within seconds.

A spokesperson for Sir Sadiq Khan said: "Heat Ready London recognises that rising temperatures are becoming a growing reality for the capital and sets out a shared vision for helping London adapt.

"As part of that, it supports expanding safe access to blue spaces where people can cool down during periods of extreme heat.

"Public safety must always come first, and the mayor will continue working with partners, including the Port of London Authority, to help Londoners enjoy the capital's waterways safely while building a more climate-resilient city."

The PLA is also reminding bystanders they should never enter the water themselves.

Instead, they should call 999 and ask for the coastguard, encourage the person in the water to float on their back, throw them something that floats to hold on to, and keep them in sight until the emergency services arrive.

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