Water Safety Ireland is urging anyone planning water activities over the weekend to take care.
Deputy CEO Roger Sweeney said that while there has been a fall in the number of drownings in recent years, people should not get complacent.
He said that on average, 118 people drown in Ireland every year, “so that’s still about ten every month, so that’s still a significant public health issue and we learn from those tragedies.”
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Sweeney said that over the last five Easter holidays, a dozen people drowned.
He said that while some of those were swimming, some were out walking and had no intention of getting into the water.
He urged people not to have “an unhealthy bravado” towards water.
“Have a healthy respect for whatever your activity is, even if it’s walking, and we’ll all come home safely,” he said.
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