FAMILIES from Dorset are being urged to improve their water safety knowledge after statistics reveal the county ranks joint sixth highest for fatalities.

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) will be appealing for people to learn basic water safety and rescue skills during its Drowning Prevention Week campaign, taking place from June 12-19.

They say that in Dorset, while the number of people reported to have drowned fell by 29 per cent in 2019 (from 14 to 10), the county still ranks as the sixth highest in the UK for drowning deaths, with 70 fatalities in the last five years.

RLSS UK chief executive officer Robert Gofton said: “We are extremely concerned that this summer will see people rushing to jump into the water without proceeding with caution and understanding the potential life-threatening implications.

“Although amazing work has been done to reduce the number of accidental drownings across the UK and Ireland, this year has been unprecedented in so many ways.

"We have witnessed a recent increase in public euphoria and risk-taking behaviour.

"Dorset has a particularly high rate of drowning incidences and we urge as many people as possible to access our resources to learn how to stay safe."

The charity is fearful that there could be a significant rise in drowning accidents and fatalities across the UK this summer when lockdown restrictions lift further, with a worrying number of accidents having already taken place.

As part of Drowning Prevention Week, families are being urged to access the RLSS UK’s FREE resources to learn how to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.

Visit www.rlss.org.uk/dpw for information.