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Duration 1min 29sec Release Date 1973 Sponsor Central Office of Information for Home Office Text version of this film
Warning children not to play near ‘dark and lonely’ water, a horror film style look and voiceover is used in this film to highlight the dangers.
An ominous sounding Donald Pleasance voices the ‘Spirit’ of the water, a Grim Reaper figure ready to bring death to ‘the show off’, the ‘fool’ and those ignoring no swimming signs.
In 1973 following pressure from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) the Home Secretary set up a working party to look at ways of reducing drowning accidents.
Although the rate has fallen since the 1970s, drowning is the third most common cause of accidental death among the under 16s. (Source: RoSPA, August 2004)