Emergency services from across north Wales met to discuss the recent spate of tragic water-related deaths in the region.

The meeting on 30 July was organised and chaired by North Wales Police in response to growing concerns over the number of incidents and the devastating impact they have had on families, communities and emergency responders.

Representatives from a range of organisations attended – in person and online, including emergency services, local authority emergency planners and other key partners such as the Coastguard, RNLI and Mountain Rescue, to share information, identify common challenges and explore opportunities to strengthen water safety across the region.

Chief Superintendent Owain Llewellyn, Chair of the Outdoor Safety Partnership said: “The nine recent deaths in our lakes, rivers and sea has been deeply concerning and our thoughts are with the families, friends and communities of those affected.

“While many organisations are already working hard to promote water safety, by bringing partners together we can strengthen our collective approach.

“The meeting marked an important first step.

“North Wales Police has facilitated this discussion because we recognise that preventing further tragedies requires a coordinated response.

“Partners have committed to continuing to work together to identify opportunities to improve education, prevention and safety messaging, with the shared aim of reducing the number of water-related incident across North Wales.

“We want everyone to enjoy everything North Wales has to offer and return home safely so we are encouraging both residents and visitors to make safety a priority whenever they're enjoying the outdoors and to take a moment to think about how they can reduce the risks.

“Everyone has a personal responsibility to make sensible decisions and look after themselves and those around them.

“By taking a few simple precautions, we can all help prevent avoidable incidents and ensure everyone can enjoy North Wales safely throughout the summer."