More people drowned in Cornwall than any other county in the UK and Ireland between 2014 and 2018.

A staggering 70 people died after accidentally entering the water in the county during the four-year period.

The statistics were revealed in an independent survey carried out by the drowning prevention charity The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) ahead of Drowning Prevention Week (June 14-24).

Falmouth water safety campaigner Paige Winsper spoke to the Packet about the dangers posed by living near open water.

Paige said: "We do have the highest amount of people drowning in Cornwall but we also have the highest number of people living by water. Because we live round it every day we don't see the dangers.

"If you know someone that has to walk home and their journey is by the water, don't let them walk home alone."

It is an subject that strikes close to home for Paige, who tragically lost her brother Josh when he drowned after a night out in Wales at the age of 24 in 2016.

She said: "My brother was a very well-known [Penryn] local so one expected him to drown, no one would have ever expected that and that's what people need to get in their head."

To help cut down on the number of drowning fatalities and near-misses in Cornwall, the RLSS is urging people to take step to familiarise themselves with water safety skills.

The charity is working in partnership with leisure centre operators including GLL which runs Ships and Castles in Falmouth in order to provide various activities.

It urges people to get in touch with their local leisure centre to find out what activities are on offer.

Robert Gofton, RLSS UK CEO said: “Drowning destroys families and devastates communities. Every year, we see a tragic amount of preventable deaths as people flock to open water sites that are not suitable for swimming.

"It may seem an inviting way to cool off, but there are very real and very deadly dangers at these sites, such as extremely cold water, uneven depths and hidden debris that people can get injured on or caught in.

“Most people are surprised to learn that you are more likely to die from drowning than from being hit by a car or in a fire. We believe that the majority of drowning incidents can be prevented and urge people to swim where it’s safe. Don’t take unnecessary risks.”

Roughly 700 people drown every year nationwide.

RLSS UK’s recent independent survey revealed that in the South West:

•More than 30 per cent (1/3) of people surveyed said that their swimming abilities limited the activities they could do, with 22 per cent admitting they couldn’t swim at all.

•Nearly 65 per cent of those surveyed who had children under the age of 11 said they would not be confident their child would know what to do if they saw someone fall into open water.

•Six per cent of those surveyed said they knew someone who had died as a result of drowning.

•18 per cent said they knew someone who had nearly drowned.

•Nearly 80 per cent believed water safety skills should be part of the national curriculum.

•More than 12 per cent had almost lost their lives in a drowning incident or struggled in the water and needed help.