Eight people already lost their lives to drowning in Manchester's city-region waters in as many months. As of August 31 this year, eight people have died in the city's waters. Over the past five years, that death toll amounts to a staggering 66 - with a five-year record high of fifteen deaths recorded in 2021.
Disaster has struck on every occasion, prompting Greater Manchester's Fire and Rescue Service to repeatedly issue warnings about swimming in open water during the hot spells of 2022 to prevent the tragedies happening again. Many of those who have died so far this year, were only teenagers with their lives ahead of them.
This summer, emergency services swarmed to Salford Quays in July, where 16-year-old Kalen Waugh lost his life after swimming with friends in the water. Tributes were paid following his death, from both friends and his school, with balloons tied to a bench and flowers left at the waterside.
