What to Do If Someone Is Drowning: 4 Actions for Bystanders
SaveIf you see someone drowning, your first action is to alert the lifeguards by shouting and waving. Your second is to throw flotation — a buoy, a lifebuoy, even an empty plastic bottle — if one is within reach. In most cases, entering the water yourself puts two people at risk instead of one. Beach Lifeguards exists to help you understand what works, what doesn't, and why staying on shore while helping from there is often the safest choice you can make.
Recognising the Emergency
Drowning does not look like the thrashing, shouting struggle you see on screen. A person in trouble is often silent, upright in the water, with their head tilted back and their mouth at water level. Arms may be out to the sides, pressing down rather than waving. There is no call for help because the person cannot spare breath for it. Movement is minimal and the whole event can be over in seconds.
Children are especially hard to spot: they slip under quietly, and the shorter the person, the less time you have. Watch for stillness where there should be play, or a swimmer making no forward progress despite effort. If something looks wrong, assume it is.
What You Hear
Silence is the warning. A child who was laughing a moment ago and is now quiet in the water is the scenario worth acting on immediately. Adults in trouble may manage one shout, but often there is no sound at all. Trust your instinct: if you are unsure whether someone is struggling, shout to them. No answer is an answer.
Alert the Lifeguards
Lifeguards are trained, equipped and positioned to act. Your role is to get their attention as quickly as possible. Shout "Help — someone's in trouble" or simply "Lifeguard!" while pointing at the person. Wave both arms above your head if the guard is facing away. On a busy beach, run to the nearest lifeguard station if shouting does not work within seconds.
Other beachgoers can help: ask someone near you to alert the lifeguards while you stay focused on the person in the water. The more eyes on the struggling swimmer, the less chance they disappear from view. If you lose sight of where they went under, tell the lifeguards exactly where you last saw them.
Throw, Don't Go
If flotation is within reach — a lifebuoy on a post, a buoyancy aid left on the sand, even a large empty water bottle — throw it towards the person. Aim to land it within arm's reach if you can, but even getting it close gives them something to move towards. A floating object can keep someone at the surface long enough for the lifeguards to arrive.
Do not throw anything heavy or hard: a full bottle, a rock, or anything that could injure someone already struggling. The goal is to give them something that floats and that they can grab without effort. If a rope is attached to the buoy, hold the other end so you can pull it back if the first throw misses, but never tie the rope to yourself.
Reaching from Shore
If the person is very close to the edge and you are certain you can reach them without entering the water, extend a towel, a stick, or your arm while lying flat on the sand or rocks. Keep your weight back and your centre of gravity low. The moment you feel yourself being pulled forward, let go. A rescue from shore works only when you stay anchored.
When Not to Enter the Water
- You are not a trained lifeguard or strong swimmer. Panic is powerful, and a drowning person will climb on top of you to reach air.
- The conditions that put the first person in danger — a rip current, cold water, large waves — are still there. You will face the same hazards without the advantage of position or preparation.
- There is no flotation device to take with you. Entering the water without a buoy or board means you have nothing to put between you and the person you are trying to help.
- You are alone on the beach and no one knows you have gone in. If both of you get into difficulty, no help is coming.
The instinct to go in is strong, but it does not improve the outcome. Untrained water rescues account for a significant share of drowning deaths each year, and the person who went in to help often does not make it back. Staying on shore, keeping the person in sight, and directing the lifeguards to them does more good than entering the water unprepared.
Calling Emergency Services
Dial 999 if the beach is unpatrolled or if the lifeguards have not reached the person within a minute. Ask for the coastguard and give your location as precisely as you can: the name of the beach, the nearest access point, and any landmarks visible from where you are standing. If you know the what3words address, state it. Stay on the line and follow the instructions you are given.
Do not assume someone else has called. On a crowded beach, bystanders often wait for another person to act. Make the call yourself, then return to watching the water if it is safe to do so.
What Happens After a Rescue
Even when a person is pulled from the water conscious, they may still be in danger. Secondary drowning — a delayed reaction to water in the lungs — can occur hours later. Anyone who has been submerged, swallowed water, or shown signs of distress should be seen by a doctor, even if they feel fine immediately afterwards.
The person may be cold, frightened, and disoriented. Keep them warm, calm, and still until medical help arrives. Do not give them anything to eat or drink until a professional says it is safe. If they were unconscious at any point, or if they are vomiting, struggling to breathe, or confused, treat it as a medical emergency and wait with them.
Your Own State After the Event
Witnessing a drowning is distressing, whether the outcome was good or not. You may feel shaken, replay the event in your head, or question whether you did enough. These reactions are normal. Talk to someone you trust about what happened, and if the feelings do not ease after a few days, speak to your GP. The event was real, and your response to it deserves attention.
Preparing Before You Go
The best way to help someone in the water is to reduce the chance it happens at all. Swim only on beaches with lifeguard cover, stay between the flags, and learn to recognise a rip current before you go in. If you are responsible for children, keep them within arm's reach in the water and teach them to raise one arm and shout if they need help.
Check the flag colours before entering the water: they tell you where it is safe to swim and where it is not. A red flag means stay out. If you see someone ignoring the flags, consider saying something: other beachgoers may not realise what the colours mean, and a polite reminder can prevent an emergency before it starts.
| Action | When It Works | When It Doesn't |
|---|---|---|
| Shouting and waving | Lifeguards are present and within sight | Beach is unpatrolled or guard is out of view |
| Throwing flotation | Object is light, floats well, and person is close enough to reach it | Person is too far out, or flotation is heavy and sinks |
| Reaching from shore | Person is within two metres and you can lie flat without moving forward | Person is further out, or you feel yourself being pulled |
| Entering the water | You are trained, strong, have flotation, and someone on shore knows you went in | You are untrained, alone, or conditions are dangerous |
This is an information site for general knowledge only.
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Download PDF: Drowning Response Checklist for Beachgoers PDF, 28 KB
Further reading
Frequently asked questions
Should I jump in if I see someone drowning and no lifeguards are nearby?
Only if you are a trained lifeguard or very strong swimmer, have flotation to take with you, and someone on shore knows you have gone in. Otherwise, throw flotation, call 999, and keep the person in sight from shore.
What should I throw to someone drowning if there is no lifebuoy nearby?
Anything light that floats well: an empty plastic bottle, a foam bodyboard, or a buoyancy aid. Avoid anything heavy or hard that could injure them.
How can I tell if someone is drowning when they are not shouting for help?
Look for a person upright in the water, head tilted back, mouth at water level, and arms pressing down at their sides. They are often silent and make no forward progress despite effort. If something looks wrong, assume it is and alert the lifeguards.