**United in Grief: Mother and Rescuer Join Forces in Water Safety Campaign After Tragedy in North Wales**
A shared tragedy has brought together two people determined to raise awareness about the dangers of open water swimming in Wales. Debbie Turnbull, who lost her teenage son Chris to drowning, and Gwyn Roberts, one of the firefighters who helped search for Chris on that fateful day, are now working side by side to prevent further loss of life.
Their paths first intersected silently in 2006, on the banks of the Afon Llugwy in Capel Curig. Chris Turnbull, just 15 and an able swimmer, had been enjoying a day out with friends when disaster struck. The rescue team, including a then 21-year-old Gwyn Roberts on his first major water rescue assignment with North Wales Fire and Rescue Service (NWFRS), searched desperately, but Chris’s life could not be saved.
Now, nearly two decades later, Debbie and Gwyn have finally met in person. The encounter was emotionally charged for both, as they realised their shared connection through the devastating events of that summer day. Their experience has become the driving force behind their joint campaign for improved water safety education and drowning prevention measures.
Reflecting on that day, Gwyn described how, despite being fit and only a few years older than Chris, he didn’t fully understand the dangers posed by wild rivers. “Seeing Chris, so young and athletic, made me realise that drowning can happen to anyone – even those who seem strong,” he said. That harrowing experience would shape the course of Gwyn’s career, as he dedicated himself to public safety and became NWFRS’s water safety lead.
Equally, Debbie’s life changed irrevocably after her son’s death. Channeling her grief, she founded River and Sea Sense (RASS), a non-profit aimed at educating young people about water safety. She began by visiting Chris’s school to warn pupils of the risks of open water and has since reached more than 600,000 people across the UK and Ireland. Her relentless campaigning includes partnerships with fire and rescue services, the RNLI, and the implementation of the All Wales Drowning Prevention Strategy.
Their collaboration now centres on sharing both their perspectives within the wider community: Gwyn as a frontline rescuer and Debbie as a bereaved parent turned campaigner. “We are coming together to prevent others having to experience what we’ve been through,” Debbie explained. This summer, as part of their efforts, the pair are organising a free water safety awareness day in Llanberis, coinciding with World Drowning Prevention Day. The event will offer practical sessions on safe swimming, demonstrations with water rescue dogs, and information about bereavement services.
The emotional burden of their shared loss is still raw. Debbie recounted the moment she knew something was desperately wrong: her husband John came home after hearing a report on the radio, and moments later, police officers arrived at their door. “That’s when our world changed forever,” Debbie recalled. Despite the pain, she strives to stay strong for her mission, although in private the enormity of her loss often overwhelms her.
Gwyn, meanwhile, has witnessed firsthand the harrowing aftermath of many drowning incidents since that day. He observes that social media now amplifies the risks, particularly among young men tempted by bravado and peer pressure to take dangerous risks near water. He is also concerned by the easy availability of water leisure equipment like paddle boards, often sold without any accompanying safety advice.
Their joint message stresses that no one is immune to the risks posed by rivers, lakes or the sea, regardless of swimming ability. Safety, both say, is paramount. Water safety advocates recommend never swimming alone, always selecting lifeguarded beaches, and being mindful of currents and tides. The RNLI’s “float to live” technique has proved life-saving for many, and is widely promoted during their sessions.
As warmer weather and school holidays draw more people to rivers and lakes, Debbie and Gwyn hope that sharing their story will prompt people to take extra care, heed advice, and think twice before entering open water. Through education, action, and a shared determination shaped by personal tragedy, they are working to ensure that others do not have to endure the heartbreak they both know only too well.