Life-saving water safety message for visitors to Lee Valley

The free event took place on Friday 1 May, a particularly warm and sunny spring day – the sort of day that keeps Rangers at Lee Valley Regional Park busy, ensuring that visitors aren’t tempted to enter the unsupervised bodies of water throughout the park.

Students from Upshire Primary Foundation School in Waltham Abbey were among attendees who heard from experts at Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Lee Valley Regional Park Authority about the dangers of entering unsupervised open water. Visitors were interested to learn about the hidden hazards in open waters including old, submerged machinery and cables which could snag a swimmer, unexpected currents, shallow waters, Weil’s disease and, one of the most common causes of drowning, cold water shock which can occur in any UK waters.

Attendees were also equipped with practical advice on what to do if they find themselves or others in difficultly in the water, brought to life by live rescue demonstrations on the lake at Lee Valley White Water Centre.

This exciting event formed part of the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) 2026 #BeWaterAware campaign and was delivered by the Robbie Lea Water Safety Partnership, a group of organisations that collaborate to support and enhance water safety education initiatives in Hertfordshire and Essex.

The Partnership delivers an annual campaign of water safety education in Broxbourne secondary schools, alongside wider campaigns delivered by member organisations, such as Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s countywide campaign to highlight how to stay safe and help others around canals and waterways in the county - www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/watersafe

Karen Wheeler, Learning and Engagement Advisor at Lee Valley Regional Park said, “We’re thrilled to have engaged such a wide audience with this crucial water safety information. With the warmer weather arriving it’s vital that people understand the dangers in our open bodies of water. Over 60% of accidental drownings take place in inland waterways and even the strongest swimmers can quickly find themselves in difficulty, so it’s vital that our visitors do not enter any of our unsupervised open waters.”

Head of Community Safety and Partnerships at Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Greg Duke, said, “Spending time around water can be enjoyable, but the tragic loss of 21 lives in Hertfordshire over the past five years shows how vital it is to stay water aware.

“We urge everyone to follow simple safety advice: keep your phone charged, stay away from the water’s edge, and stick to well-lit paths. If someone gets into difficulty, call 999 using what3words to give an exact location, encourage them to float on their back, and throw something that floats if it’s safe.

“These small actions can save lives and help everyone stay safe this summer.”

This spring the Robbie Lea Water Safety Partnership once again returned to Broxbourne secondary schools to deliver life-saving water safety assemblies to over 1,100 students. The informative and hard-hitting sessions were delivered by representatives from Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Hertfordshire Constabulary.

Schools visited included Goffs Academy, the school attended by Robbie Jordan Lea - a young man from Cheshunt who tragically drowned in 2017 after getting into difficulty swimming in a lake in River Lee Country Park. The Robbie Lea Water Safety Partnership was created in Robbie’s memory to support and enhance water safety education initiatives in the area and over the years Robbie’s legacy has seen 12,000 children engaged in water safety.

Jonathan Yelland, Assistant Principal – Personal Development at Goffs Academy reflected on their workshop, “Providing our students with key information on what to do in a water-based emergency is vital. With our proximity to the local lakes, we want our students to be aware of the dangers and what to do if they find themselves or others in difficulty in the water.”

With the arrival of warmer weather, the work of the partnership is crucial as people, and in particular young people, are tempted to enter unsupervised bodies of water without understanding the dangers.

Visitors are not permitted to enter the waterbodies within Lee Valley Regional Park. Further advice and guidance on staying safe in and around water can be found at visitleevalley.org.uk

Lee Valley White Water Centre offers a number of opportunities to safely enjoy water-based activities, including supervised open water swimming in the clean, chlorinated lake, with the added advantage of changing rooms and hot showers afterwards. The venue also offers thrilling white water rafting, along with other adrenalin-fuelled white water experiences and calmer lake-based activities.