Drowned boy's family promotes Float to Live campaign
The family of a boy who drowned in a river has shared the Float to Live campaign to encourage water safety awareness.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The families of two boys who drowned in open water this year have spoken publicly about their loss as part of a campaign to promote water safety.
Junior Slater, 12, died after getting into difficulty in the River Ribble in Lancashire in May. His family has now shared the Float to Live message, which advises people to tilt their head back, relax and try to breathe normally if they find themselves in trouble in cold water. A memorial bench has been installed close to where he died, and warning signs have been put up at the spot.
Junior's sister recalled the horror of the day he disappeared. The family had hoped he would be found safe, but that was not to be. Junior could not swim and had been sitting on rocks with his feet in the water when he slipped. The river looked calm but hid extremely cold water and dangerous undercurrents.
In a separate case, the mother of Mohamed Sekar, 16, has also spoken out. Mohamed drowned in a lake at Rother Valley Country Park in South Yorkshire during the May bank holiday heatwave. His mother, Cady Cissé, said she wanted improved safety at open water sites and warned that you cannot always see what lies beneath the surface. Mohamed could swim, but the water depth suddenly dropped where he got into trouble.
Mohamed was one of at least 15 people who drowned during the May heatwave, many of them teenagers. He had wanted to become a doctor. His mother said she was speaking out in the hope of saving other families from the same pain.
Both families are supporting campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers of cooling off in open water, especially during hot weather. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution's Float to Live advice is being promoted, and there are calls for better safety measures at lakes, rivers and other inland water spots.
The deaths have prompted warnings from emergency services and charities about the risks of swimming in open water, where cold water shock and hidden currents can catch even strong swimmers off guard.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | Sky News |
|---|---|---|
| At least 15 people drowned during a heatwave in May, including Mohamed. | · | |
| Cady Cissé wants more people to understand how dangerous open water can be. | · | |
| Junior Slater, aged 12, died in the River Ribble after slipping from rocks; he was unable to swim. | · | |
| Junior Slater's family are promoting the Float to Live water safety campaign. | · | |
| Mohamed could swim, but drowned where the water depth suddenly dropped. | · | |
| Mohamed Sekar's mother is urging greater awareness of the dangers of open water. | · | |
| Warning signs have been installed at the spot where Junior Slater and his friends entered the river. | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report centred on Junior Slater's personal story, the family's grief, and their promotion of the Float to Live campaign. It linked the tragedy to the current heatwave and wildfire warnings, but kept the focus on the emotional impact and practical safety advice.
- “Some days you wake up and you feel like it's not even real. Like he's just going to ring you or walk through the door again.”
- “We'd do anything, anything to have him here with us.”
The report focused on Mohamed Sekar's death and his mother's campaign for improved safety at open water sites. It highlighted the scale of drownings during the May heatwave and stressed the hidden dangers of lakes and rivers, with a strong call for greater awareness and prevention.
- “I cry every day. I miss him every day.”
- “I am happy to speak because Mohamed would be happy for me to save someone's child.”
Broadcast Timeline
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