Brits were delivered a key warning by the country's leading lifeguard organisation, the RNLI, before five people died over the weekend when they got into trouble on the water17:48, 26 May 2026RNLI launch new Float to Live campaign ahead of heatwaveExperts had warned Gen Z underestimate the dangers of the coast — just days before four British teenagers died in water tragedies.‌The perils of the open water were laid bare by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) last week as the scorching heatwave was forecast. However, several teens lost their lives in accidents across the UK over the past few days, including 15-year-old Declan Sawyer, who was discovered during a search of Swanholme Lakes near Lincoln.‌The RNLI, the UK's top lifeguard organisation, continues to remind those heading to the coast while the warm weather continues into half term to follow vital safety advice. Speaking last week, it had said young men are most at risk of drowning and offered ways to prevent such tragedies.‌Fronting a campaign in RNLI's latest video, Brit adventurer and Celebrity Hunted star Jordan Wylie MBE said: "Young men are most at risk of drowning. so I'm going to demonstrate the technique... if you get trouble in water."READ MORE: Schoolboy, 13, pictured after drowning in Halifax reservoir in front of horrified crowdREAD MORE: Five teenagers die in open water in heartbreaking weekend as warnings issuedFive teenagers in the UK and Ireland died after getting into difficulty in water over the long weekend. Among the dead are a 13-year-old, named locally as Reco, who was pulled from the water after he drowned in Leadbeater Dam near Halifax, West Yorkshire. Police recovered the body of one unnamed teen who "went missing in water" at a country park in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, and another unnamed girl died at Kingsbury Water Park in Warwickshire. In Ireland, Abbie Carmody-Pepper, 15, lost her life while bathing at Burrow Beach, Sutton, Dublin.‌RNLI's new campaign, named "float to live" comes as people plan to flock to the coasts in the hot weather this week and into the summer, with potentially millions hitting the country's seaside beauty spots. While the water will be inviting, the organisation has warned that natural bodies of water can be unpredictable, with people potentially pulled down rivers by strong currents, or taken out to sea in rip tides.Fronting the campaign in its latest video, Brit adventurer and Celebrity Hunted star Jordan Wylie MBE revealed the vital steps people should take if they find themselves in trouble.‌He said: "If you get into trouble in the water, float to live. Tilt your head back with your ears submerged. You must relax, and try to breathe normally. Move your hands and legs in order to stay afloat. It's fine if your legs sink - we all float differently. You can also practice floating in a local pool if you can, but if you remember one thing this summer, remember, float to live."The organisation highlighted that in 2024 alone, 193 people died in accidental drowning incidents, the vast majority of whom - 84 percent - were men aged between 20 to 29.‌Bob Taylor, Bridlington RNLI volunteer Water Safety Officer, said: "We know that there will be a huge amount of people visiting open water and the coast over the coming months and we want everyone to remember our Float to Live advice. Instinctively, most people who find themselves struggling in the water will begin to panic, swim, or thrash about."We’re urging people to ignore this instinct and remember to float: Tilt your head back, with your ears submerged. Relax and try to breathe normally."Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat if you need to. It’s fine if your legs sink – we all float differently. By doing this, you give yourself the chance to rest and recover your breathing. Once you’ve regained control of your breathing, you can call for help or swim to safety."‌Anyone who sees another person struggling in the water is advised by the RNLI to:Phone 999 to get helpTell them to stay calm and float on their backThrow rescue equipment to help them float until emergency services arriveArticle continues belowWith the extreme heat currently baking large swathes of England, the RNLI has also warned people to stay alert for cold water shock, which can happen when the body is exposed to water temperatures of 15C and below. During water shock, the organisation states, people can lose control of their breathing and movement, with the water also causing their heart rates and blood pressure to surge.The grim combination of conditions can increase the risk of heart attacks, and the RNLI has warned that, with average sea temperatures at just 12C and rivers and lakes even less, float to live can also save lives in these situations.