More must be done to prevent deaths due to drowning in Wales, a Senedd committee has found. The issue has been investigated after a mum from north Wales campaigned for better water safety and drowning prevention in Wales
Leeanne Bartley’s son, Mark Allen, died after jumping into cold water at Gorton Reservoir, Manchester, in June 2018. Since then, she has campaigned tirelessly for better water safety measures in Wales and across the UK, including the petitions calling for rescue equipment to be mandatory.
Ms Bartley, from Ruthin, said she was determined to keep a promise she made as she saw her son's body that she would do all she could to stop anyone else dying in the same way. "We weren't able to see Mark until two days after he died. When I saw him I leaned over and made a promise I would do all I can to fight to make things safer for other people. I feel like it’s so important and so worthwhile as Mark wanted to change his little world.
