Mum who lost son shares water safety plea 10 years after tragic death

This month marks 10 years since teenager Cameron Gosling tragically lost his life after getting into difficulty in the water. On a sunny day in July 2015, the popular teenager left home to hang out with friends.He was a strong swimmer and thought nothing of jumping from a flat rock into the River Wear in Bishop Auckland, but the cold water caused the 14-year-old to suffer a shock reaction and he started to struggle in the water.

He surfaced once calling for help and his friends tried desperately to save him, getting themselves into trouble with their efforts, but, after a major search, divers found his body seven hours later.  

Since his tragic death, his committed mother Fiona has visited countless schools to help spread awareness of cold water shock and the dangers of open water swimming.

“Cameron lit up a room when he walked in it,” she said. “He was very personable and his friends were his life. His time was spent with them every minute of every day. He was just a boy.”

Remembering that tragic day, Fiona said: “He decided he was going to go to the river. They had been there for about half an hour and hadn’t touched the water at all, but then he stood in a line of four boys on a rock and waited his turn [to jump in]. As soon as he hit the water they knew he was in trouble. It was an instant thing. His friends jumped in. But it didn’t matter what they did they weren’t going to bring him home the way he left. We had a seven hour wait before they found him and then your whole life just changes.”

Fiona urged youngsters to always tell someone where they are going and to never just jump into the water before acclimatising their body to the temperature.

She said: “My message to parents would be, ‘know where your kids are.’ Just ask them. Speak to your kids about the dangers of water. There is information out there to explain what cold water shock is and how fast it can take over your body. Just talk to them about it to make them understand that things can happen in an instant and its irreversible. I didn’t have a clue what cold water shock was until it happened, and I don’t want another parent to say, ‘this will never happen to me,’ because it can.”

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) Station Manager, Gary Tough, said: “Cameron was just 14 years old when he passed away of cold-water shock after jumping into the River Wear. It’s a tragic incident that has stayed with every firefighter who attended that day.”

He added: “With the summer holidays are now upon us, it’s more important than ever that people are aware of the dangers of cold water shock. When it’s warm and sunny, it can be so tempting to cool off in the water but the reality is that the water in our sea, lakes, rivers and reservoirs is still extremely cold - even on the hottest of days. There are also dangers hiding underneath the water, which you can't see from the surface. We want everyone to enjoy visiting their favourite spots of open water this summer but we urge you to do so safely without taking any risks.”

Offering lifesaving advice, Gary added: “If you do find yourself in difficulty in the water, float on your back. Tilt your head back and use your hands to help you stay afloat. When you are floating, call for help or try to steer with your arms towards shore. If you see someone in difficulty in the water, follow the Call, Tell, Throw advice. Call 999 and ask for the fire service. Explain where you are. If you are unsure of the location, look for landmarks or use the ‘what3words’ app. Tell the person in the water not to panic and to float on their back.Throw them something that floats such as a throw bag, if nearby. If they are attached to a rope, make sure you hold the end so you can pull the person in. If you manage to get the person out of the water, remember, they will always need medical attention as they may have hypothermia or water in the lungs. We do not advise anyone but a trained rescue specialist going into the water to perform a rescue.”

In 2024, CDDFRS firefighters attended 16 water rescue incidents and 19 such incidents in 2023.

David Gray, Chair of the County Durham Open Water Safety Group and Durham County Council’s health and safety compliance manager, said: “Our thoughts remain firmly with Fiona Gosling and all of Cameron’s family and friends ten years on from his death. Fiona’s commitment to telling Cameron’s story in the hope of preventing other families going through the devastating loss the Goslings have been, and are still, going through, is amazing. As we go into the school holidays and with World Drowning Prevention Day on the horizon, it is a perfect time to remind people to think about water safety if they will be spending time near rivers, lakes and reservoirs this summer. We hope they enjoy themselves of course, but it is really important that they remember that open water can be very dangerous, and take heed of the fire service advice to keep themselves safe.”