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River safety campaign film premieres in York

A HARD-HITTING film aimed at driving home the message of The Press’s Think, Don’t Swim campaign is being premiered today at York’s City Screen cinema.

A still from the Think, Don’t Swim film showing graves in the River Ouse. A still from the Think, Don’t Swim film showing graves in the River Ouse.

Bartender Richard Horrocks, 21, drowned in the Ouse after jumping into the water from a balcony close to the riverside cinema in July.

He was the third person to die in York’s rivers so far this year, and his death prompted The Press to launch its campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of jumping or falling in the water. The campaign has also included the launch of posters and beer mats carrying the campaign message.

Think, Don't Swim campaign

Think, Don’t Swim campaign film>>

City Screen marketing manager Dave Taylor said it was pleased to host the screening, which is an invitation-only event.

An actor goes underwater in the Ouse An actor goes underwater in the Ouse

He said Richard had been known to some of the cinema’s staff and added: “In the summer, we occasionally see people being urged to leap into the river and try to swim across, and there’s clearly a danger.”

The short film, made by film-maker Christopher David, of York-based, award-winning Flash Frame Productions, includes emotional interviews with Richard’s mother, Vicki, and sister, Abbi, about the devastating impact of his death on the family.

There are also interviews with York councillor Ian Gillies about his experience in dealing with bodies in the rivers many years ago when he was a coroner’s officer, and with former firefighter and diver Steve Fila, director of technical services at Commercial Diving and Marine Services, of Appleton Roebuck, about the dangers of the river.

All the interviews were conducted in the sombre setting of a funeral parlour in Bishophill, provided by Cooperative Funeralcare.

The film also features a short fictional dramatisation about a young man who meets a young woman in a nightclub, with the roles played by Cary Galia and Michelle Cousins.

Steve Fila in a still from the Think, Don’t Swim film Steve Fila in a still from the Think, Don’t Swim film

The pair walk alongside the Ouse and then the man goes skinny dipping in the river, with tragic consequences. Nightclub Salvation agreed for a scene to be filmed in its premises.

Mr David, who has won 22 national and international awards for his films, has revealed previously how he had been moved to tears for the first time in his career when he was interviewing Mrs Horrocks.

He said he had two children of his own, and could not imagine the pain and suffering any family must feel when they lost a loved one so tragically.

* The Press' sincere thanks go to Christopher David, Vicki and Abbi Horrocks, Steve Fila, Ian Gillies, Cary Galia, Michelle Cousins, Salvation, Cooperative Funeralcare and everyone else involved in the making of the film.

A still from the Think, Don’t Swim film showing graves in the River Ouse. A still from the Think, Don’t Swim film showing graves in the River Ouse.

The Press - Comment

Powerful message in bid to save lives

THE powerful image on our front page today of gravestones appearing to rise out of the River Ouse says more than a thousand words could about the dangers of swimming in the river.

The image comes from a hard-hitting film being premiered today which aims to drive home the message of The Press’s Think, Don’t Swim campaign.

That message is simple. The Ouse may look placid: but it is cold, and the swirling currents make it extremely dangerous. Three people have died in its waters already this year. We don’t want there to be any more.

In the short film, the mother and sister of bartender Richard Horrocks are seen talking about how his death devastated the family. Richard drowned after jumping into the Ouse from a balcony near City Screen. The film makes for painful viewing. We make no apologies for that. We want it to save lives.

We also carry today a report of an inquest into the death of 26-year-old Paul Rogerson, who drowned after falling from Ouse Bridge while on a night out. It is another desperately sad story, which underlines once again why we launched our campaign.

The Ouse can seem very tempting at night: particularly if you’ve had a few to drink.

But to those who might one day find themselves tempted, we say: please, please, please, think of what happened to Richard and Paul. And then walk away.

What do you think? - Click to comment


Comments (15)

31/10/11

Terry3 says...

It is not the river that kills, it is the stupidity of people. Sorry, but this is a fact. Blaming the river, and scaring those that enjoy this wonderful place is not the way to go.
Drunks and idiots take ridiculous chances, always have and always will, be it with water, or on the roads, or climbing high buildings. They are the ones that end up paying, sometimes they pay the ultimate penalty. All the short films in the world will not change this.

31/10/11

Beermatman says...

Maybe we should all have more sense as Terry3 says; but it should not stop the rest of us trying to warn others of the dangers.
The "think don't swim" advertising beermats will help raise aweness of these dangerous acts, lets hope so anyway; and if they save just one life it will be worth all the effort... And No One would disagree with that!
Our thoughts go out to Richard's family and friends. And let him be the last please God.
www.beermatman.co.uk

01/11/11

WTheobald says...

Terry3, just like other commentators on this subject over the last few weeks, has totally missed the point. Whether people are drunk or sober the river is a killer. I have read posts from reasoned argument to the utterly stupid as above but not one, not a single one has given any reason why the river kills. It is not because of drink, it is because it is entirely unpredictable. The currents WILL take you, they are merciless and the end results, I can tell you for fact, is a loss of life and the sort of pain you simply cannot imagine. Because if you could, if you could feel just a fraction of what the families feel, you would not post such irresponsible tosh as terry3 has put. As one of the Police divers said when they had recovered one victim, there was no way out, no way to survive the current drunk or sober. If people want to believe these deaths are down to stupidity then that is up to them, but I challenge them to tell me this on one of my visits to place flowers near my nephews place of death. Because I can talk them through the last few months, I can show them the pain my family, and that of Mr Horrocks continue to go through and then people can tell me the ones paying the price are those who died. The river kills, keep out of it and enjoy it from the banks.

01/11/11

Tom6187 says...

If idiots want to jump that's their decision, you can't educate spam.

01/11/11

Terry3 says...

WTheobald wrote:
Terry3, just like other commentators on this subject over the last few weeks, has totally missed the point. Whether people are drunk or sober the river is a killer. I have read posts from reasoned argument to the utterly stupid as above but not one, not a single one has given any reason why the river kills. It is not because of drink, it is because it is entirely unpredictable. The currents WILL take you, they are merciless and the end results, I can tell you for fact, is a loss of life and the sort of pain you simply cannot imagine. Because if you could, if you could feel just a fraction of what the families feel, you would not post such irresponsible tosh as terry3 has put. As one of the Police divers said when they had recovered one victim, there was no way out, no way to survive the current drunk or sober. If people want to believe these deaths are down to stupidity then that is up to them, but I challenge them to tell me this on one of my visits to place flowers near my nephews place of death. Because I can talk them through the last few months, I can show them the pain my family, and that of Mr Horrocks continue to go through and then people can tell me the ones paying the price are those who died. The river kills, keep out of it and enjoy it from the banks.
I understand your pain, but this does not change the facts in most of these deaths.. do something stupid and not only will you pay the price, but your family and friends will pay a greater one, because their grief will NEVER go away. I do not know who you are WTheobold, but to say my comments are "utterly stupid" is I think your pain talking, and I understand this, but you must face the fact that several, in fact most of the recent drownings were the result of drink, and the idiocy that it causes.

01/11/11

Buzz Light-year says...

Let me tell you why I think your comments are stupid and why Tom6187 is a selfish half human.

It's about society. It's about evolution. It's about community. It's about caring for our own as a species.

Back in the day, when were grunting and wearing furs, did we grunt to our friends and children "Haha you died of horrific burns, what an idiot" or "Haha that bear just ripped you to shreds you fool"
No we didn't we shared knowledge and learned together, socially, how to deal with and respect our fires and deal with wild animals. That learning came through communication and passing on of knowledge, not summarily dismissing others as idiots.

Just pretend that these "idiots" who you don't know or don't have the emotional and intellectual capacity to imagine as human beings are someone like your brother or son.
You would want to warn them wouldn't you?
You'd tell your kids that fire burns, bears kill and water stops you breathing wouldn't you?

Or would you wait till they got hurt and scoffed at their idiocy?

It's a sad reflection that so many people can become so dehumanised, so socially challenged that they would rather insult their past fellows than help to educate their current fellows. You may not know them personally but they are your fellows.

Should be ashamed of yourselves.

01/11/11

Bo Jolly says...

Buzz Light-year wrote:
Let me tell you why I think your comments are stupid and why Tom6187 is a selfish half human.

It's about society. It's about evolution. It's about community. It's about caring for our own as a species.

Back in the day, when were grunting and wearing furs, did we grunt to our friends and children "Haha you died of horrific burns, what an idiot" or "Haha that bear just ripped you to shreds you fool"
No we didn't we shared knowledge and learned together, socially, how to deal with and respect our fires and deal with wild animals. That learning came through communication and passing on of knowledge, not summarily dismissing others as idiots.

Just pretend that these "idiots" who you don't know or don't have the emotional and intellectual capacity to imagine as human beings are someone like your brother or son.
You would want to warn them wouldn't you?
You'd tell your kids that fire burns, bears kill and water stops you breathing wouldn't you?

Or would you wait till they got hurt and scoffed at their idiocy?

It's a sad reflection that so many people can become so dehumanised, so socially challenged that they would rather insult their past fellows than help to educate their current fellows. You may not know them personally but they are your fellows.

Should be ashamed of yourselves.
D*mn right and well said.

Some of the comments on this issue have been borderline psychopathic in their sentiments. Nobody DESERVES to die/be paralysed for a moment of madness (drunken or otherwise). If we can help prevent it happening by teaching people to respect the river, we should.

01/11/11

russeboy says...

Has common sence evolved Buzz Light-year? Seems it hasnt - man must jump in river when drunk!

01/11/11

Sillybillies says...

Nobody DESERVES to die/be paralysed for a moment of madness (drunken or otherwise).

But one or other is a fairly predictable consequence of such gross stupidity.

04/11/11

Beermatman says...

I don't care what anyone else says; if Beermats can help to save peoples lives then our living has not been in vain.

EVERYONE of us has done something stupid in our lives and up till now we have gotten away with it; and for ALL those that say they haven't then either they've lved in a box, or are just plain liers..!
And so say ALL of us..
Beermatman
http://www.beermatsa
dvertising.com

04/11/11

Beermatman says...

I don't care what anyone else says; if Beermats can help to save peoples lives then our living has not been in vain.

EVERYONE of us has done something stupid in our lives and up till now we have gotten away with it; and for ALL those that say they haven't then either they've lved in a box, or are just plain liers..!
And so say ALL of us..
Beermatman
http://www.beermatsa
dvertising.com

04/11/11

Beermatman says...

To all who read this we would like to say that although we are a commercial enterprise, if we can help save lives; or help in any other way please contact us through our website at:
And we would like to thank "The Pess" for publishing these comments. http://www.beermatsa
dvertising.com
Beermatman

04/11/11

Beermatman says...

To all who read this we would like to say that although we are a commercial enterprise, if we can help save lives; or help in any other way please contact us through our website at: http://www.beermatsa
dvertising.com
And finaly we would like to thank "The Pess" for allowing us to publish these comments.
Beermatman

04/11/11

Beermatman says...

Correction.
To all who read this we would like to say that although we are a commercial enterprise, if we can help save lives; or help in any other way please contact us through our website at: http://www.beermatsa
dvertising.com
And finaly we would like to thank "The Pess" for allowing us to publish these comments.
Beermatman

04/11/11

russeboy says...

Beermatman wrote:
Correction. To all who read this we would like to say that although we are a commercial enterprise, if we can help save lives; or help in any other way please contact us through our website at: http://www.beermatsa dvertising.com And finaly we would like to thank "The Pess" for allowing us to publish these comments. Beermatman
Beermatman, are you going to make your 6th post in 30 mins with another correction "The Pess"?

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