Widow Kirsty to join Shrewsbury river safety patrols this Easter

Kirsty Walsh, whose 29-year-old husband Shane Walsh died in the river in September last year, is the new ambassador for West Mercia Search and Rescue and will be out on patrol on Good Friday and March 31.

Mrs Walsh joined volunteers on the first ever river patrol over the Christmas period and the team managed to steer 12 "high-risk" people away from the water.

She revealed the pain of trying to make sure no other family has to go through the same tragedy, but said she is determined to do her bit to help.

"I’ve been keeping up to date with everything going on and I’ve been on training days and some open events and will be going on patrol," said Mrs Walsh.

“My main intention is to have the education there. We’ve been having some very adverse weather at the moment so we’ve been keeping an eye on that, as ice and flood water can be dangerous.

“This isn’t going to get easier for me on a personal level, it only gets harder, but if I can reduce the risks and the danger around the river then it is something positive to come out of it.

“The patrols at Christmas were really positive, so now it’s about working with other organisations such as Shrewsbury police, the fire service and Shropshire Council to be proactive and raise awareness.”

Message

Andy MacAuley, chairman of West Mercia Search and Rescue, said the team is committed to making people aware of the risks.

He said: “West Mercia Search and Rescue volunteers will again be spreading the water safety message in Shrewsbury this Easter.

“Following the influential report by Portsmouth University, which showed a link between men going missing on a night out and drowning, we have been working with Shrewsbury’s policing team to raise awareness via our Home and Dry campaign.

“So far thousands of people have seen the free online training, but we still believe it’s worth taking the message to those at greatest risk after a drink.” Mr MacAuley said that Shrewsbury is home to West Mercia’s biggest night time economy.

He added: “Shrewsbury is West Mercia’s largest night time economy, and both history and the university’s study highlight the problems with it being on such a powerful river nearby.

“Two thirds of all ‘missing on a night out’ cases involved disappearances from areas of ‘high night time economy’ (HNTE).

“In 90 per cent of HNTE cases bodies were found in water. There is a small, distinct cluster of cases of people who died on land having fallen close to the last venue they were partying at.”

For more information visit westmerciasar.org.uk

River safety measures in Shrewsbury

A number of measures have been taken to improve safety on the River Severn.

These include:

• Safety barriers have been improved where paths and lanes join the tow path and where there are changes in the line of the path.

• New lighting was installed along some stretches of the tow path and life bouys installed. Footpaths were also widened.

• A Respect the Water and Don’t Drink and Drown campaign, promoted by the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) and the Royal Lifesaving Society, has been implemented in the town.

• West Mercia Police launched the year-long campaign called Home and Dry – No More River Deaths earlier this year. It aims to reduce the number of water deaths, raise awareness, provide training and information, and recommend safety products across the region.

• Shrewsbury door staff have been trained to carry out river rescues. Five bars have been given river safety kits containing throw lines and life jackets.

• The Samaritans have placed signs on the town’s bridges urging people to get in touch before they do something drastic.

• Shrewsbury Street pastors spend weekend evenings offering a helping hand to those who find themselves worse for wear in one way or another. Instances have included talking a young man in his 20s down from one of the town’s bridges and handing out flip-flops.