A FORMER York coroner’s officer and leading councillor has thrown his support behind The Press’s campaign to prevent tragedies on the city’s rivers.

Ian Gillies, who now leads the Conservative group on City of York Council, said: “Having had the unenviable task of informing parents, brothers and sisters of the sudden and often unaccountable death of a loved one on several occasions, and seen the obvious distress, I would urge anybody to enjoy their social activity, drink responsibly and avoid routes which take them near rivers on their way home.”

Think, Don’t Swim is aiming to drive home the dangers which the Ouse and Foss can pose after three people lost their lives in the water so far this year.

The campaign is being backed by the emergency services and the parents of 21-year-old York barman Richard Horrocks, who died after jumping into the Ouse from outside a bar in the city centre last July.

Coun Gillies said it appeared history had a habit of repeating itself.

“There are those who set out to harm themselves and others who do not see any danger in their activities when entering the river for whatever reason, paying the ultimate price with their lives,” he said.

“I fully support the stance taken by the police and fire service in calling for people to act responsibly. No amount of legislation will deter spontaneous acts, particularly where alcohol is a contributory factor, but that does not prevent reasonable measures being put in place to mitigate potential fatalities.”

He said people often lost their lives after saying goodbye to their friends at the end of a night out.

“The next thing is that they are missing and later recovered from the river with no apparent reason for their demise,” he said.

“The theory is that they have had a few drinks, walked by the river, and somehow fallen in. It always leaves many questions unanswered for the investigation and the family left behind.

“Other deaths include horseplay on boats, being caught up in the reeds in the Foss, and showing off by jumping off bridges, and from the riverbank. They always appeared to be preventable in the cold light of day. The majority of victims have been male.”

Coun Gillies said common sense had to be the chief weapon in avoiding river tragedies, as other measures of preventing them were limited.

“Life buoys are provided but often vandalised, notices are erected but ignored, and nobody wants to spoil the access to the riverside walks enjoyed by those who walk and cycle along the paths,” he said.

“It has become common, when groups join together to have a night out, that if they use a car they nominate a driver who does not drink.

“Perhaps those who join together have a responsibility to each other if they believe that a member of the group is at danger when walking home along the riverside. Alcohol and rivers can be a lethal combination, which is not always acknowledged.”