'Reasonable requests have been met with silence': Sea swimming safety call after two tragic deaths, while officials dismiss idea more needs to be done at popular beaches
A call has gone out to boost safety measures at popular sea swimming spots, after officials dismissed the idea that anything more needs to be done – despite two tragic deaths in a little more than five years.
With the pastime seeing an explosion in popularity in recent years, beaches along the north coast of Co Down have become a haven for people looking to take a dip in nature.
According to area councillor Lauren Kendall, however, the popular spots need improved safety measures and lack clear warnings letting people known of dangers in the water.
Since the Covid pandemic hit, two people have tragically drowned while sea swimming off the coast of north Down – artist Mary Feeney in October 2020 and grandmother Rosa Parkes in January this year.
Beaches on that stretch of the coast are variously run by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and Ards and North Down Council; with two deaths in recent years, Ms Kendall asked officials from both organisations to add more safety features.
They’ve now come back maintaining everything that could be done is already being done, with the council’s officials suggesting any remaining dangers are simply endemic to sea swimming as a pastime.
Ms Kendall disagrees. She told the News Letter: “Residents and regular sea swimmers have made it abundantly clear that current safety measures are not enough.
“They have asked for lifeguard provision during peak months, clearer and more accessible signage, the installation of life-buoys or marker buoys where possible to define safer swim zones, and the use of wind indicators and bathing flags.
“Yet these reasonable requests have been met with silence or vague assurances, rather than concrete action.”
The council maintains that it carries out regular risk assessments and provides safety equipment at designated bathing waters, while NIEA stated comprehensive signage and rescue equipment are already in place.
However, Ms Kendall says these measures have not been updated or expanded in response to recent incidents, while feedback from sea swimmers hasn’t been acted on.
“The signage is often inaccessible or unclear, and the current arrangements are felt to be inadequate by those who swim regularly,” she said.
“We need visible, accessible, and correctly oriented signage with clear safety messages, and exploration of any further safety measures that could be possible. We should not be taking a tick-box approach to safety.”
Despite escalating the issue directly to the office of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir, she says, there hasn’t been any commitment to boost safety while “risk assessments have not been shared”.
“While the benefits of open water swimming are clear, we must do what we can to tackle risks so that people can swim safely as far as possible,” said the Green Party councillor. “Our community deserves action. I will continue to press for transparency and meaningful improvements to ensure our beaches are safe for everyone.”
The situation has left sea swimmers feeling that no one wants to take responsibility or bring in changes they’ve been asking for, said Ms Kendall.
“It is deeply disappointing to see such reluctance to act, especially when the solutions are coming directly from those who use and care about these beaches most,” she added.