A man who was pulled from the sea near Bournemouth's Boscombe Pier has died.
The man, who has not yet been identified, was pulled from the water on Tuesday, 15 February.
Concerns were first raised at 6.56am over the welfare of a person in the water, and police officers soon responded along with the coastguard, ambulance and fire service.
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Despite the efforts of the emergency services, the man was taken to hospital and pronounced dead at 11am.
As per the Bournemouth Echo, a Dorset Police spokesperson said, 'Whilst no formal identification has taken place as yet, officers are in contact with a local family and have informed them that a body has been located.'
They added that the coroner has also been notified and that the death is not being treated as suspicious.
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While the circumstances surrounding the man's death remain unclear, the number of deaths by drowning in England has increased in recent years.
An appeal was launched by the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) with the aim of reducing water-related deaths, after new statistics showed an increase in drowning deaths from 2019 to 2020.
The #RespectTheWater campaign is the first time that 50 organisations have issued coordinated water safety advice.
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Members of the NWSF come from 'a wide range of sectors', including local governments and rescue services.
According to the NWSF website, the 'national campaign aims to provide simple lifesaving advice, which can help members of the public take personal responsibility for their own and family’s safety'.
The campaign lists three key live-saving tips, which include, 'If you get into trouble in the water, Float to Live. Lean back and use your arms and legs to help you float, then get control of your breathing before calling for help or swimming to safety.'
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It also advises, 'If you see someone else in trouble in the water, call 999 or 112. If you are the coast ask for the coastguard, if you are inland, ask for the fire service.'
Dawn Whittaker, CEO East Sussex Fire Rescue Service and part of the NWSF, spoke of the campaign to 'help prevent further deaths'.
She said, 'We urge the public to understand the dangers, to learn the importance of knowing how to float to live, and to call 999 if others are in trouble.'
The advice is important to remember for anyone heading towards the coast this year, as the campaign states, 'Accidental drownings form part of the total water-related fatalities in the UK which stands at 631 for 2020, an increase of 10 on the previous year.'
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If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677
Topics: no-article-matching, UK News
Shola Lee