SAFETY experts will tomorrow consider installing grab chains on the banks of York’s rivers to help save the lives of people who have fallen or jumped into the water.

A retired British Waterways engineer has drawn up proposals for a series of chains to be fitted to allow people in the water to ‘self-rescue’ by holding a chain and calling for help.

Christopher Rainger says that in 2014, following a series of drownings in the Foss and the Ouse, City of York Council commissioned safety body ROSPA to investigate the river dangers and, as a result, new escape ladders and additional life belt points were installed.

He said the report also recommended installing grab chains but, for unknown reasons, they had only been installed along parts of the Ouse near New Walk, leaving all the vertical walls of the Ouse and Foss without any means of self-rescue, apart from occasional ladders.

“I believe this has been a significant contributory factor in some of the fatalities in York’s rivers,” he said.

“Most of York’s riversides have sheer vertical walls where it would be impossible for someone in the water to find a hand hold to support themselves.

“It is common practice to install grab chains in such situations and ROSPA include grab chains in their standard water safety literature. The Canal and River Trust installed such chains through all its tunnels in the 1990s.”

Cllr Denise Craghill, executive member for safer neighbourhoods, said she understood the matter was coming back to a Water Safety Forum meeting tomorrow, with a proposal to go back to ROSPA and ask for an updated report in the light of further guidance issued since 2014 and any other changed circumstances.