With temperatures set to soar across Wales again this summer, the RNLI is putting out a serious warning to anyone planning a trip to the coast – cold water can kill, even when the sun is blazing.
The lifeboat charity is urging people to think twice before jumping into the sea, rivers, or lakes during the hot spell. It might look inviting when the mercury climbs, but the water temperature in Wales can still be dangerously cold beneath the surface, regardless of how warm it feels standing on the beach.
Cold water shock is one of the biggest killers in open water. When your body hits cold water suddenly, it triggers an involuntary gasp reflex. If your head is underwater at that moment, you inhale water. Your heart rate spikes, your muscles seize up, and even the strongest swimmers can find themselves in serious trouble within seconds. It does not matter how fit you are or how well you can swim in a pool.
The RNLI says this message is more urgent than ever as Wales heads into another stretch of high temperatures. Heatwaves bring more people to the coastline, and more people in the water means more risk. Last summer saw a string of incidents along Welsh beaches and inland waterways as crowds flocked to cool off.
Lifeguards will be patrolling many of the popular beaches across Wales during the warmer period, but not every stretch of coastline is covered. The RNLI is asking people to swim only at lifeguarded beaches where possible and to always follow the red and yellow flags that mark out the safest areas to get in the water.
For those heading to spots without lifeguard cover, the charity has some straightforward advice. Never swim alone. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. If you get into difficulty, fight the urge to thrash around. Instead, float on your back, control your breathing, and raise an arm to signal for help. That simple technique, which the RNLI calls Float to Live, has already saved lives.
Parents are also being reminded to keep a close eye on children near the water at all times. Drowning can happen quickly and quietly, and a moment of distraction is all it takes. Inflatable toys and airbeds are fun on a calm day but can be swept out to sea by offshore winds faster than most people realise.
The warning extends beyond the beach too. Rivers and reservoirs across Wales attract visitors during hot weather, but these spots carry their own risks. Currents can be unpredictable, depths are often unknown, and there are no lifeguards on duty. The RNLI is asking people to treat these locations with the same caution they would give the open sea.
Alcohol is another factor that comes up every summer. Drinking on the beach and then deciding to go for a swim is a combination that has ended in tragedy before. Alcohol affects your judgement, slows your reactions, and makes it much harder to deal with the shock of cold water.
The RNLI crews in Wales are ready for a busy period. Stations along the Welsh coast from Rhyl in the north to Tenby in the south will be on high alert throughout the heatwave. But the charity is clear that prevention is always better than a rescue.
If you do end up in the water unexpectedly, the advice is simple. Do not panic. Float on your back. Breathe. Then call for help or swim to safety once you have control of your breathing.
Anyone who spots someone in difficulty in the water should call 999 and ask for the Coastguard immediately.