The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has today announced seven people claimed ‘floating’ helped save their life in 2017, after the charity advocated this as a key survival skill last summer.

Coastal fatality figures released today, show 109 people lost their lives at the UK coast in 2017 (156 in 2016)

Over half (55%) did not intend to enter the water

91% of the fatalities were men – a record high proportion

As the RNLI’s national drowning prevention campaign Respect the Water enters its fifth year, the charity is urging anyone who finds themselves in trouble in cold water to stay calm and ‘float’.


Ross Macleod, RNLI spokesperson says:

‘Losing someone to drowning is a shattering experience, so I am very pleased several people said the RNLI’s Respect the Water ‘float’ advice helped them survive in a dangerous situation in the water last year. I’m also encouraged by the 2017 coastal fatality figure as it is lower than in previous years. We are hopeful that our safety campaigning and education work has contributed to a reduction in coastal deaths, but we cannot get complacent. It’s vital we all keep sharing lifesaving advice to ensure last year’s reduction becomes part of a long term downward trend in coastal fatalities. One drowning, is one too many.

‘A particularly worrying statistic is that male deaths make up 91% of the fatalities, with many of them ending up in the water unexpectedly. It clearly highlights much more must be done to help men keep themselves safe around the coast.’


This year the charity is calling on the public to practice the ‘float’ survival skill – a simple skill that could mean the difference between life and death – and to share this lifesaving knowledge with others.