I was racking my brain for ways not to die – then I remembered to float

• 486 people accidentally lost their lives at the UK coast during the five years from 2019-2023*.

• New research released by the charity shows that 3 in 4 (76%) of UK adults don’t know that their first action should be to try and float if they end up in difficulty in water**.

• Katie Laurie and Will Peckham share their story of how the float technique helped save their lives after they found themselves in serious danger in the sea.

• Media are invited to attend demonstrations of the lifesaving float technique.

New research released today by the RNLI reveals that, while 85% of people in the UK plan to visit the coast this summer, 76% would not think to try and float as their first action if they find themselves struggling in water.

Between 2019 and 2023, 486 people accidentally lost their lives at the coast. A staggering 83% of these were men. To help save lives, the single piece of advice which the RNLI is urging the public to remember, share and practise is: If you find yourself struggling in water, Float to Live.

Ross Macleod, Water Safety Manager from the RNLI, says:

‘Instinctively, most people who find themselves struggling in the water will begin to panic, swim, or thrash about. We’re urging people to ignore this instinct and remember to float: Tilt your head back, with your ears submerged. Relax and try to breathe normally. Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat if you need to. It’s fine if your legs sink – we all float differently. By doing this, you give yourself the chance to rest and recover your breathing. Once you’ve regained control of your breathing, you can call for help or swim to safety.

‘RNLI lifeboat crews and lifeguards save hundreds of lives at the coast each year but, sadly, there are still many lives lost in UK and Irish coastal waters each year. We’re urging people to remember, practise and share the float technique to help save more lives.’

Katie Laurie and Will Peckham got into serious danger in the sea at Borth, Wales, in 2022. They used the float technique to buy themselves valuable extra time until they were rescued by RNLI lifeguards.

They were knocked off their feet by a large wave and were quickly swept around 40m out to sea by a powerful rip current. They tried swimming towards the shore but couldn’t make any progress against the strong current and were being pushed under water by waves.

Katie says:

‘After the wave went over us, we couldn’t get away, it was pulling us out and the shore was getting further away. Being pushed under by the water wore me out – every time I got back up, the waves would push me down again. It was like being in a washing machine. All we could do was fight enough to breathe.’

The couple were becoming exhausted and feared for their lives, when Katie remembered the float to live advice she had seen on a poster at the beach entrance. She shouted to Will to try and float. Floating helped the couple regain their breath and keep their heads above water until the lifeguards reached them and took them to safety.

Katie continues:

‘I was running out of energy to tread water – I was racking my brain for ways not to die, then I remembered I’d seen a sign with the float to live advice. Whoever put that sign at the beach entrance is a hero.

‘I was exhausted by the time we were rescued. The lifeguards had been struggling against the conditions and I was worried about what would happen if they couldn’t reach us. But when they started getting nearer, I started to hope we would be alright. I don't remember much of the ride back – by then I was exhausted. When I got out of the sea, I couldn't walk unaided.

‘I don't think I would have lasted without floating – the float to live technique really did help to save me.’ 

Ross Macleod says:

‘The seas around our coasts are cold enough year-round to trigger cold water shock, while waves and rip currents can overpower even the most experienced water users. Many people who end up in danger at the coast every year never planned to enter the water, so this advice could be a lifesaver for anyone who is heading to the water – even those who are experienced, and those who have no plans to enter the water.

‘For Katie and Will, the combination of remembering the float advice and choosing to go to a lifeguarded beach meant they survived a very serious situation. Their story is now one of around 50 cases we are aware of where floating has helped people secure valuable extra time before being rescued, so we know this advice helps save lives.’

The charity’s advice for anyone struggling in the water is ‘Float to Live’:

• Tilt your head back, with your ears submerged

• Relax and try to breathe normally

• Move your hands and feet to help you stay afloat

• It’s fine if your legs sink, we all float differently

• Practise floating in a local pool if you can.

If you see someone else struggling in water:

• Call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.

• Tell the person to relax and float on their back.

• Throw something buoyant to help them stay afloat.

For more information visit RNLI.org/Float.

*Data from the Water Accident Database (WAID) coastal dataset 2019-2023.

** RNLI Water Safety Campaign Research May 2025. Conducted by Basis Research on behalf of the RNLI. Representative sample of all UK adults (18+) 1,005 responses.

Notes to Editors

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.