YORK'S rivers are more than three times as dangerous as the English average, a new report has claimed.

The study was carried out earlier this year, following the deaths of four people in the Ouse and the Foss, and found that while there were multiple slip and trip dangers near the rivers, the chances of self-rescue were slim.

The report by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) said: "Over the past five years there has, on average, been a serious incident every three months. Due to a mixture of rescues and good fortune, not all of these incidents have resulted in deaths. However, the drowning/submersion deaths rates for York are over three times the regional and national average.

"We found numerous low-level slip, trip or fall features that increase the likelihood of a fall into water. The activities of people around the water increase the risk of accidental slipping tripping and intentional entry into the rivers. Further, to this, at many locations, self rescue is expected to be difficult."

The report also found alcohol was involved in 45 per cent of incidents involving people going into the river, eight of which resulted in a death.

The report claimed the drowning and submersion death rate in York between 2008 and 2010 (the most recent figures available from Public Health England), was 3.4 - more than three times the English average of 0.9 - and there had been an average of three accidental fatalities per year since 2009.

A consultation as part of the report found "nobody felt the locations and river-fronts were inherently and particularly unsafe", and people were generally aware of currents, water temperature and the ease of access to the rivers.

But it said: "With the exception of certain parts of the Rivers Thames in London and some popular beaches, the consultant has not observed fatal incidents with a similar level of frequency elsewhere in the UK.

"A concerted and sustained effort of education and public reinforcement of the risks involved with the rivers in York needs to be taken, ultimately it seems that lessons painfully learned years ago are not remembered by the present young adults and this will lead to a perpetual cycle if not checked."

The recommendations of the report have already been taken on board by City of York Council and other water safety organisations, and work has already begun on making changes to some safety equipment around the rivers.

The report also recommended support of a river safety boat as well as the current York Fire and Rescue Service provision, some fencing along the Foss, new lighting, and a water safety education campaign for universities, colleges, taxi services and bar staff, school children.

Part of the RoSPA report says York’s rivers are three times as dangerous as the English average, but statisticians say this was an error and they are actually twice as dangerous.

 

Work has begun to improve safety

Improvements to river safety have already begun following an announcement last month.

In September, City of York Councillor Tracy Simpson-Laing, Supt Phil Cain from North Yorkshire Police and Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan announced a number of changes to be implemented to try to prevent tragedies in the Ouse and the Foss.

The announcement included the promise of new safety equipment along the rivers’ banks within weeks, to be followed by further improvements into next year funded by £100,000 from City of York Council.

Steve Waddington, the council’s assistant director of housing and community safety, said work had begun on issues highlighted by RoSPA, with an audit of riverside lifesaving equipment, and some new items had been ordered.

He said: “Before river levels began to fluctuate this autumn, we also started to survey the existing grab rails. New traffic control work has been completed at Cumberland Street to improve the clearways and access to the dedicated slipway for the Fire and Rescue service. In addition, repairs along New Walk, Museum Gardens Esplanade and Terry Avenue are underway, with more planned for next year, as part of the council’s ongoing programme.”

He said fencing was being bought for installation near Navigation Road and the chain fencing was being upgraded at Wellington Row, the Blue Bridge area and Queen’s Staith by the end of this year.

Mr Waddington said a review of premises licences would probably take place.

• Video interviews with Jackie Roberts, mother of Megan Roberts, Steve Pearson, father of Tyler Pearson, and Rachel Peatfield, girlfriend of Ben Clarkson, launched at last month’s announcement, have been viewed online more than 4,500 times.