Mum-of five Jody Brown died after falling into a canal in Walsall on May 3, with her family now calling for safety barriers to be installed around the water09:53, 20 May 2026Updated 09:54, 20 May 2026A mum-of-five has died after falling into a canal in Walsall in what her family called an "unimaginable tragedy".‌Jody Brown, 38, was pulled from the canal basin off Wolverhampton Street in the early hours of May 3. West Midlands Police said it was not treating Ms Brown's death as suspicious and would refer the case to the coroner.‌Following their devastating loss, Ms Brown's family have called for safety barriers to be installed around the water.‌Her brother, Paul Clarke, told the BBC that CCTV showed her walking along the canal's edge before falling in. "I don't think she could swim." he added.The 42-year-old described his sister as a "lovely" person who loved a "laugh and a joke". "She was bubbly, very outgoing, had a lot of friends," he said. "I'd like to see some safety barriers put in place to stop it from happening to other families, having to get through the heartache."‌Mr Clarke has set up an online petition urging authorities in Walsall to "immediately install safety fences or barriers around the canal".The petition states: "Many canals across the UK have already been equipped with safety measures like fencing and barriers, reducing the risk of accidents and making them safer for everyone, especially children and non-swimmers."With Walsall Canal being located in a busy town centre, it is vital that similar precautions are taken here. Numerous studies have shown that the presence of barriers significantly reduces the likelihood of accidental drownings."‌A spokesperson for the Canal & River Trust said the trust was "distressed" by the tragedy and offered sincere condolences to Ms Brown's family and friends. An internal inquiry will be carried out and the charity will support the coroner, the spokesperson said."Our charity does not own the land around the basin, so decisions about fencing are not directly within our gift. However, we are committed to working in partnership and have already contacted the local council," they added.Walsall Council also said it was "saddened" by what had happened. A spokesperson said: "We are committed to working in partnership to support the Canal and River Trust to look at improving the safety around the canal basin and ensure safe access to and from the water for boaters and others who need to enter the water, particularly in the event of a rescue."Article continues belowA fundraiser has been set up on GoFundMe to help the family with funeral costs. Nina Patterson, who launched the fundraiser, described Ms Brown as a "bubbly young lady". At the time of reporting, more than £600 has been raised, Birmingham Live reports.