A record-breaking adventurer from North Yorkshire is supporting a new campaign aimed at preventing more tragedies in the county’s rivers this summer.
Jasmine Harrison is fronting the campaign to help to prevent more water-related deaths by raising awareness of the dangers of open water.
Jasmine, who is from Thirsk, holds two world records and achieved global recognition when she became the youngest woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean five years ago at the age of 21.
The following year she was the first woman to swim the full length of the British Isles, from Land’s End to John o' Groats.
Jasmine, now aged 27, then embarked on an attempt to sail solo around the world in December 2024 before completing the challenge in March this year.
Her latest challenge involved swimming the English Channel this month (July), and she is fronting the campaign to raise awareness of the risks that cannot be seen when entering open water.
She said: “This campaign is so important to highlight the risks of open water, particularly rivers, as people simply aren’t aware of the hidden dangers.
“These might be submerged rocks, strong currents you can’t see on the surface, deep pools or sudden changes in the water depth under your feet. In a second, you can go from hip-high in the water to not being able to touch the floor and getting into trouble.
“Even as an extremely experienced swimmer, I take a lot of precautions before I enter any water. I always have a tow float, take time to understand the risk of each setting before going into the water and I am well-prepared with a plan and support.
“If I can help to prevent more tragedies by sharing these simple hidden danger messages, it will be up there with my proudest achievements.”
The campaign is supported by us and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and follows the introduction of warning signs at Richmond Falls this month (July).
The series of waterfalls have been the location of a number of incidents, including the death of a 12-year-old boy who drowned there in August last year.
There have been a series of deaths linked to water during the hot weather this year. There were at least 19 water-related deaths nationally during the heatwave that arrived towards the end of May, including a 13-year-old girl who died while in the River Wharfe near Burnsall in North Yorkshire.
Council leader, Cllr Carl Les, said: “To have someone like Jasmine to launch the campaign is extremely welcome to help to promote such important safety messages.
“We want everyone to be able to enjoy all that North Yorkshire has to offer, but we want people to do that in an informed and safe way by being aware of the very real dangers that open water can present.
“The surface can look so calm and inviting but below that can be life-threatening risks.”
While anyone can get into difficulty in open water, the safety campaign is being specifically targeted at young people.
The campaign is promoting the ‘float to live’ principle if someone ends up struggling while in open water. The key safety advice is for a person who is in danger in water to tilt their head back, spread their arms and legs and to relax while controlling their breathing.
If someone else is in trouble, do not enter the water and instead follow the ‘call, tell, throw’ principle - call 999, tell them to float, and throw something that can help them stay afloat.
The campaign is also aimed at raising awareness of cold-water shock which can have devastating effects.
The effects of suddenly entering cold water can lead to the body’s involuntary and potentially life-threatening response with rapid breathing, increased heart rate and loss of muscular control.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Garry Mackay, said: “We’re proud to be part of this campaign which is about helping people to make informed decisions and understand how to stay safe around water.
“Rivers, lakes and reservoirs may look calm and inviting, particularly during warm weather, but the risks beneath the surface can be life-threatening.
“Strong currents, hidden obstacles, sudden changes in depth and cold-water shock can quickly turn an enjoyable day out into an emergency. Thank you to Jasmine for her support for this campaign.”
North Yorkshire is England’s largest county and has a vast network of waterways. Lakes include Gormire Lake at Sutton Bank and Semerwater and Malham Tarn in the Yorkshire Dales, while the Esk, Nidd, Swale and Ure are among the county’s rivers. The county’s coastline stretches from just above Staithes in the north to south of Filey.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has been involved in more than 200 rescue operations in lakes and rivers in the county since the start of 2022. There have been a total of 19 accidental drownings in the county over the same period.