UK Water Related Fatalities 2005
The figures within this table represent the occurrence of fatalities as a result of drowning and other water related incidents within the geographic limits of the UK search and rescue sector. The figures are a result of collaboration between NWSF members and represent our best efforts at outlining the level of water related fatalities occurring in the UK. These figures are intended to inform debate on matters of water safety.
| Activity |
Residential |
Pool |
Inland |
Coastal |
Sea |
Total |
Commercial |
|
|
|
|
2 |
3 |
5 |
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
|
|
3 |
5 |
5 |
13 |
Leisure |
|
1 |
6 |
31 |
13 |
1 |
52 |
|
|
|
3 |
8 |
7 |
18 |
|
|
|
1 |
8 |
|
9 |
|
|
|
8 |
6 |
7 |
21 |
|
|
|
6 |
1 |
|
7 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
2 |
1 |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
5 |
|
5 |
|
|
1 |
17 |
12 |
|
30 |
|
19 |
|
83 |
17 |
2 |
121 |
|
17 |
|
24 |
15 |
|
56 |
Total Accidental Fatalities |
37 |
7 |
179 |
96 |
25 |
344 |
| Other fatalities |
|
|
|
5 |
8 |
2 |
15 |
|
4 |
|
50 |
59 |
2 |
115 |
|
3 |
|
118 |
82 |
4 |
207 |
Total Other fatalties |
7 |
0 |
173 |
149 |
8 |
337 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
44 |
7 |
352 |
245 |
33 |
681 |
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Notes: The figures presented in the above table relate to events that have occurred on, in or near to water. Of the 681 cases, 435 cases are suspect accidental drowning, 155 cases are suspected suicide, while 64 cases are crime suspected. In 27 cases, natural causes are the primary suspected cause of the fatality (with 15 of these cases are confirmed as such).
Due to the fact that the majority of drowning events are not witnessed, in addition to the reporting and quality assurance differences in the datasets used, we cannot guarantee that these figures are free from double entries. There are 16 cases within this set where we strongly suspect a matching event, however at this time we currently have insufficient evidence to confidently merge the cases. Water related fatalities involving UK citizens abroad, have been excluded from this dataset. A copy of the terms and definitions applied to this table is available from the NWSF website to download.
National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) and its members have taken reasonable measures to ensure that the information given on the pages is accurate and robust. Any information published is accurate to the best of our knowledge on the stated publication date. The reader is advised to contact the NWSF before publishing or reproducing figures stated in the tables from the NWSF website. The figures may be reproduced in any format or medium for non-commercial research, private study or internal circulation within an organisation. This is subject to it being reproduced accurately and the material must be acknowledged as NWSF copyright with the title and date of the document specified. For any other use of this material, or for more information please contact NWSF directly.
Revision v4, May 2007.
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