Water safety is a concern
The sea and waterways that cross our community are a beautiful asset and, on occasions, a tragic burden.
Treating the water with respect is something we all taught at an early age. And for good reason.
Whether the water is calm or turbulent matters not a jot. Danger lurks at every turn.
The death of Liam Hall is a tragic reminder of those dangers. The coroner Karen Dilks has said she is to write to the council about safety at Roker beach in light of his death.
Some of those questions may well have been answered by council leader Paul Watson today.
But the sea and the Wear are ever present dangers that we ignore at our peril.
And at this time of year, it pays to remind our children of those dangers.
The six week school summer holidays are almost upon us and the draw of the water will prove irresistible to the youngsters in our community.
There are simple safety guidelines, and this is not an exhaustive list, that are worth repeating.
At the sea, take not of the conditions and swim between the safety flags and near lifeguards.
Watch for rip currents, and if you find yourself in one, swim (or walk) across the current not against it.
If you do find yourself in difficulty, stay calm. Wave and call for help. Don’t panic and splash about, relax and try to float.
Never go swimming after drinking alcohol, don’t swim alone, ensure children are supervised at all times and don’t jump from heights into the sea.
The sea and waterways are an asset to our community, but they must be treated with respect and caution.
We would urge you to remind youngsters of this today.