The Royal Life Saving Society's Pete Kennedy says new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has the chance to turn local water safety success in Manchester into his national missionPete Kennedy, Royal Life Saving Society Policy and Public Affairs Manager07:26, 25 Jul 2026Drowning claims the lives of over 300,000 people globally each year. In fact, it is the third leading cause of death for children aged between five and 14.‌This weekend, the World Health Organisation's World Drowning Prevention Day arrives amid an especially tragic summer, when far too many people have lost their lives both here in the UK and abroad. Our thoughts are with all of the families, friends, and communities affected by drowning - and our resolve to save lives is stronger than ever.‌Every death by drowning leaves a family and a community asking the same question: could this have been prevented?‌The tragedy is that the answer is almost always yes. As the Mirror's Save Lives for Sam campaign has brought to the nation's attention, drownings are a preventable public health crisis that have been ignored by government for too long. They must act now to prevent even more young people losing their lives.Drowning is not simply bad luck. The fact is that black children are more than three times more likely to drown than white children. Children from the most disadvantaged communities are more than twice as likely to drown than children from the most well-off communities.‌The Royal Life Saving Society UK's research proves this is a highly preventable inequality issue that needs Government action.The good news is we already know what works, and it's often simple things that can save lives. I recently heard a story that kids kept drowning in a fast-flowing river. They weren't going for a swim, they were playing on a rope swing, never intending to enter the water at all.After too many kids fell into the water and died, a local farmer said, "no more" and cut the tree down. Changing the world around us reduces drowning risk.‌On Thursday, the World Health Organisation published new guidance for Governments, titled Seven Strategies to Prevent Drowning: Technical Package for Policy-Makers. WHO guidance backs up the Mirror's Save Lives for Sam Campaign.Appointing a Minister responsible for water safety, providing safe, supervising swimming sites, ensuring lifesaving equipment is available at high-risk areas, and teaching the public safe rescue and resuscitation skills are just some of the common-sense solutions that will save lives.‌We all remember the daily government briefings during the Covid-19 pandemic where 'WHO guidance' was presented as the gold standard for what government should do, so this new drowning advice gives a blueprint for the Government to deliver.The new Prime Minister can push this over the line and deliver Keir Starmer's promise in June that the Government will do "whatever we can" to prevent future drownings.‌As Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham helped drive some of the country's leading water safety work. Mr Burnham personally led a Manchester Water Safety Summit and oversaw local Water Safety Partnerships that brought together Fire and Rescue Services, Councils and other key players to strengthen rescue and prevention efforts.Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service now visits drowning locations to review safety measures and make recommendations, working with landowners to get the right safety measures in place. What worked in Manchester can work nationally: clear political leadership, bringing together the right people, and implementing effective policies.The families behind the Mirror's Save Lives for Sam campaign have fought too hard, and suffered too much, to be offered warm words alone. Andy Burnham knows this issue and has seen firsthand that his decisions can save lives. Now, as Prime Minister, he has the chance to turn local success into a national mission.Article continues belowThis World Drowning Prevention Day, we call on him to task a Minister to turn the tide on drowning.