Swimming society improve safety after student death

A university student union says it has improved safety measures after a "heroic" student drowned while rescuing three women from the sea.

Jack Lees was just days away from turning 21 when he embarked on a four-day trip with the University of Bristol Students’ Union Wild Swimming Society on 4 June 2024.

The aspiring brain surgeon died after being swept away by the strong currents off Northcott Mouth beach in Bude, Cornwall. His body was recovered two weeks later.

The student union say the coastal event has since been banned, and club must complete a mandatory risk assessment and water safety training.

Wild swimming, also known as cold-water swimming, involves natural bodies of water like rivers, lakes and the sea.

Despite its inherent risks - including cold-water shock, rips and currents, submerged obstacles, unknown depths and unpredictable weather conditions- there is no evidence a risk assessment was carried out at the beach on the day of Mr Lees' death.

An inquest into his death revealed Mr Lees, from Crediton in Devon, swam out 150m (500ft) with a male friend to save their three fellow students, who were spotted struggling to stay afloat in the outgoing tide.

Two of the women eventually managed to reach the shore with the help of Mr Lees and his friend, but after bravely returning to help the third, the 20-year-old never resurfaced from the rough tide.

Assistant Cornwall coroner Emma Hillson ruled his death as misadventure.

Ben Pilling, CEO of the student union, said new health and safety measures have since been implemented to help prevent another senseless loss.

"Following the tragic accident last year, we've worked with relevant student groups to further enhance their approach to water safety," he told the BBC.

"All our student groups are required to submit a risk assessment for their activities, which is reviewed by the SU.

"In partnership with the university, we are running a water safety campaign which has been produced with from the RNLI.

"We are also working on a project with the National Union of Students that will aim to develop and share best practice across the sector.

"We continue to take all matters of student safety extremely seriously, and work with our student groups to ensure that this is a priority for them."

In the wake of her son's death, Dr Dawn Lees has pioneered the development of a Safe Society Chartermark, providing a safety framework for student societies that partake in outdoor activities.

She said the news he had selflessly jumped in to save others came as no surprise, describing him as "a gentleman in his life and in his death".

Dr Lees also thanked the RNLI for their tireless efforts to locate her son and bring him home.

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