Department for Culture Media and Sport
Central Government
Action Planned
The Minister will write to Swim England to explore how awareness of the 'Beyond Swim' accreditation scheme and associated guidance can be increased. They will also continue to work with sports bodies to ensure safety is prioritised. (AI summary)
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Dear Mr Place,
Thank you for your email of 10 April 2025 enclosing a Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths, following the inquest into the death of Joel Ineson. I am replying as the Minister for Sport.
Please allow me to pass on my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Ineson for their loss. This was a tragic event, and I share your desire to ensure that all possible lessons can be learned. The safety and wellbeing of everyone taking part in sporting events is of paramount importance, and I will continue to push sports and event organisers to do everything they can to prioritise this.
As your report notes, the swimming event at which Mr Ineson lost his life was run by an organisation that was not affiliated to the National Governing Body (NGB) for swimming, Swim England. NGBs have jurisdiction over events run by organisations affiliated with them, but it is not mandatory for clubs or events to be affiliated with an NGB. Regardless of affiliation, event organisers should ensure that they are doing all they can to ensure the safety of participants, and must meet any legal obligations under statutory and/or common law that apply.
To help with this, Triathlon England, Swim England, Swim Wales, and Welsh Triathlon, along with the Royal Life Saving Society, have created “Beyond Swim”, an accreditation scheme for open water venues. The scheme focuses on safety to ensure open water swimming operators are following best practice guidelines and implementing robust safety standards. Beyond Swim provides information for venue operators and event organisers to help them assess and improve their safety standards.
In addition to this, Swim England recently announced the introduction of the first training course specifically for open water swimming leaders. The SEQ Level 2 Outdoor Swimming Leader Qualification covers the essential knowledge and leadership skills required to enable individuals to confidently risk assess, plan, prepare and lead safe and effective outdoor swimming sessions for small groups.
These are positive steps but, as your report highlights, it is important to ensure good awareness of safety standards in open water swimming. I will therefore write to Swim England to explore how awareness of “Beyond Swim” and associated guidance and support can be increased, and ask them to report back to me. More generally, I will continue to work with sports bodies to ensure that safety is prioritised.
Thank you again for your consideration of this issue and for bringing it to my attention.
Thank you for your email of 10 April 2025 enclosing a Regulation 28 Report to Prevent Future Deaths, following the inquest into the death of Joel Ineson. I am replying as the Minister for Sport.
Please allow me to pass on my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Ineson for their loss. This was a tragic event, and I share your desire to ensure that all possible lessons can be learned. The safety and wellbeing of everyone taking part in sporting events is of paramount importance, and I will continue to push sports and event organisers to do everything they can to prioritise this.
As your report notes, the swimming event at which Mr Ineson lost his life was run by an organisation that was not affiliated to the National Governing Body (NGB) for swimming, Swim England. NGBs have jurisdiction over events run by organisations affiliated with them, but it is not mandatory for clubs or events to be affiliated with an NGB. Regardless of affiliation, event organisers should ensure that they are doing all they can to ensure the safety of participants, and must meet any legal obligations under statutory and/or common law that apply.
To help with this, Triathlon England, Swim England, Swim Wales, and Welsh Triathlon, along with the Royal Life Saving Society, have created “Beyond Swim”, an accreditation scheme for open water venues. The scheme focuses on safety to ensure open water swimming operators are following best practice guidelines and implementing robust safety standards. Beyond Swim provides information for venue operators and event organisers to help them assess and improve their safety standards.
In addition to this, Swim England recently announced the introduction of the first training course specifically for open water swimming leaders. The SEQ Level 2 Outdoor Swimming Leader Qualification covers the essential knowledge and leadership skills required to enable individuals to confidently risk assess, plan, prepare and lead safe and effective outdoor swimming sessions for small groups.
These are positive steps but, as your report highlights, it is important to ensure good awareness of safety standards in open water swimming. I will therefore write to Swim England to explore how awareness of “Beyond Swim” and associated guidance and support can be increased, and ask them to report back to me. More generally, I will continue to work with sports bodies to ensure that safety is prioritised.
Thank you again for your consideration of this issue and for bringing it to my attention.