MOTHER OF DROWNED TEENAGER SENDS OUT WATER SAFETY WARNING

Following numerous rescues and the tragic loss of yet more lives in Welsh rivers this summer, a mother from North Wales who lost her only child in a drowning accident is using a Big Lottery Fund grant to raise awareness about river and sea safety- just in time for the school holidays.

On August 14 2006, Debbie Turnbull from Llandudno lost her 15 year old son, Chris, in a drowning accident on the river Conwy, North Wales. Chris had been playing with friends and was completely unaware that he was swimming in a danger spot at Lligwy Falls in Capel Curig.

Since then, Debbie has vowed to do everything in her power to prevent another family going through the same nightmare. Following the recent spell of bad weather and the loss of yet more lives on Welsh rivers this summer, Debbie is using a grant of nearly £5,000 from the Big Lottery Fund’s Awards for All programme to run a project which aims to educate more children about the dangers of playing in and around rivers.

Since Chris’s death, Debbie set up her own organisation in Llandudno called River and Sea Sense, and speaks to thousands of children in schools across the country every year. And with the summer holidays on the horizon, the money from BIG will be used to promote river and sea safety by enabling morevolunteers to make presentations to schools, youth groups, scouts and cadets in North Wales- predominantly in the Conwy area.

The project consists of a variety of water safety awareness courses coupled with lifesaving and emergency training. Level 1 is rolling out at present to primary age schoolchildren and the feedback is immense from parents, teachers and the young people according to Debbie.

Level 1 comprises of the group of twelve pupils being taken to an outdoor training centre where they are instructed by Swift Water Trainers on basic water safety awareness. They then have a session with Debbie as she tells her story and takes them on a ‘spot the dangers exercise’ to Aber Falls, which highlights many ‘what if’ scenarios. They also get to meet and see the rescue dogs in action and are shown how the emergency services work.

"There is nothing like this programme anywhere that brings both fun and education and ‘real life’ experience into the equation," says Debbie.

"We will progress up to level 5 which we will then gain accreditation for and can offer the courses to colleges and any age group interested in whatever level."

"The project will also include further educational slots regarding river safety and will include visits to specific areas of river danger spots and a tour of the Mountain Rescue Base HQ whenever possible."

David Jones of International Rescue Training Centre Wales says: "Debbie has an extremely captivating manner and gets her message across in a powerful and influential way that these young people just don’t forget."

And this is certainly the most important time of the year to be educating families about safety around rivers according to Debbie, who has also developed the UK’s first ever water safety map, a pioneering online tool which highlights all the danger spots in rivers throughout the UK.

"With the schools about to break up for the summer holidays and due to the atrocious weather conditions we are experiencing at the moment, it’s even more prevalent that we discuss safety around rivers", she explains.

"That’s the reason my son died. He went to Capel Curig with friends as he had been doing all year. We had a torrential downpour which created a waterfall. He was sucked into a whirlpool and his foot got trapped and he never came back up."

"It’s been a terrible mental journey. It’s shock and it’s absolute horror when you are told the news. Unless people have lived through something like this, it’s impossible to imagine. There’s nothing worse than losing a child and that’s why I do what I do now. Chris was my best friend and absolute soul mate. He was my life."

It was the loss of Chris which drove Debbie to set up River and Sea Sense: "I started this project three weeks after my son died and I’ve spoken to 62,000 children since then," she says.

"From the talks I’ve given, it’s shocking the lack of knowledge people have about safety near water. Through this project and by educating people, I’m aiming to save as many lives as possible. The project justifies the way I feel, but I know it will never bring Chris back."

"When I hear about people being swept away on the news now, it brings it all back to me. Every time I hear about another incident on TV or Radio, it’s like it was yesterday and I’m back in that place where I was."

Debbie’s safety message to people this summer is clear: "Don’t let your children out of your sight and don’t underestimate the power of the water," she says.

"If you are anywhere where there are mountains and a river this summer, what you need to be aware of is that it doesn’t matter how hot it is that day – the temperature of the river coming down from the mountain is as cold as your fridge at home. And that’s the easiest way of putting it. It’s completely different to the atmosphere outside. And people also need to realise that the river banks are being eroded, especially in these weather conditions, so they need to be very careful when they are walking on the river edge as the ground could be unstable and they could fall in. A year after my son died, another little boy died further downstream from where Chris drowned. He was just going for a walk with his mother and he slipped in and drowned. They saw him being swept away and there was nothing they could do."

She added: "You also need to be aware of rip currents – because they literally rip your life away from you. You can also get trapped in rocks under the water, which is what happened to Chris."

Encouraging more groups in Wales to apply for funding, Gareth Williams, Awards for All Programme Manager for the Big Lottery Fund in Wales, said: "This project is a prime example of how small amounts of money can make a big difference to the lives of people in communities most in need. That’s why we are urging more community groups and projects to take full advantage of and reap the rewards from this programme."

He added: "Our message is simple - if a community group has an idea for a project which supports community activity, extends access and participation, increases skill and creativity or generally improves the quality of life of people in their area, then we definitely want to hear from them."

For further information about River and Sea Sense and how you could benefit, visit www.riverandseasense.com or email debbie@riverandseasense.com Debbie has also developed the national drowning and incident reporting system which can be accessed at www.watersafetymap.co.uk

BBC Capture Wales provided a programme whereby Debbie made her own short film which she wrote and produced and now shows this at all her presentations. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/arts/yourvideo/media/pages/debbie_turnbull_01.shtml

MAM I FACHGEN A FODDODD YN ANFON NEGES DIOGELWCH DŴR

Ar ôl i sawl person gael ei achub a sawl bywyd gael ei golli'n drasig yn afonydd Cymru yr haf yma, mae mam o Ogledd Cymru a gollodd ei hunig fab mewn damwain foddi yn defnyddio grant gan y Gronfa Loteri Fawr i godi ymwybyddiaeth o ddiogelwch mewn afonydd a'r môr - mewn pryd yn union i'r gwyliau ysgol.

Ar 14 Awst 2006, collodd Debbie Turnbull o Landudno ei mab 15 oed, Chris, mewn damwain foddi ar Afon Conwy, Gogledd Cymru. Roedd Chris wedi bod yn chwarae gyda ffrindiau ac nid oedd yn ymwybodol ei fod yn nofio mewn man peryglus ar Raeadr Lligwy yng Nghapel Curig.

Ers hynny mae Debbie wedi ymrwymo i wneud popeth y gall i atal unrhyw deulu arall rhag gorfod profi hunllef gyffelyb. Yn dilyn y tywydd gwael yn ddiweddar a hyd yn oed yn fwy o fywydau'n cael eu colli ar afonydd Cymru yr haf yma, mae Debbie yn defnyddio grant o bron £5,000 gan raglen Arian i Bawb y Gronfa Loteri Fawr i redeg prosiect sydd â'r nod o ddysgu mwy o blant am beryglon chwarae mewn afonydd ac o'u cwmpas.

Ers i Chris farw, mae Debbie wedi sefydlu ei mudiad ei hun yn Llandudno o'r enw River and Sea Sense, ac mae hi'n siarad â miloedd o blant mewn ysgolion ym mhob cwr o'r wlad bob blwyddyn. A chyda'r gwyliau haf ar y gorwel, bydd yr arian gan y Gronfa Loteri Fawr yn cael ei ddefnyddio i hyrwyddo diogelwch ar afonydd a'r môr trwy alluogi mwy o wirfoddolwyr i wneud cyflwyniadau i ysgolion, grwpiau ieuenctid, sgowtiaid a chadetiaid yng Ngogledd Cymru - yn ardal Conwy yn bennaf.

Mae'r prosiect yn cynnwys amrywiaeth o gyrsiau ymwybyddiaeth diogelwch dŵr yn ogystal â hyfforddiant achub bywydau ac argyfwng. Ar hyn o bryd mae Lefel 1 yn cael ei chyflwyno i blant o oedran ysgol cynradd, ac yn ôl Debbie mae'r adborth gan rieni, athrawon a'r bobl ifanc wedi bod yn syfrdanol.

Mae Lefel 1 yn ymwneud â'r grŵp o ddeuddeg o ddisgyblion yn mynd ar daith i ganolfan hyfforddiant awyr agored lle maent yn cael cyfarwyddiaeth gan Hyfforddwyr Dŵr Swift ar ymwybyddiaeth diogelwch dŵr sylfaenol. Yna maen nhw'n cael sesiwn gyda Debbie wrth iddi adrodd ei stori ac yn mynd â nhw ar 'ymarfer chwilio am y peryglon' i Raeadr Aber, sy'n amlygu llawer o sefyllfaoedd 'beth os'. Maen nhw hefyd yn cael cwrdd â'r cŵn achub a'u gweld nhw wrth eu gwaith, ac yn gweld sut mae'r gwasanaethau brys yn gweithio.

Nid oes unrhyw beth arall fel y rhaglen hon unrhyw le arall sy'n dod â hwyl ac addysg a phrofiadau 'bywyd real' ynghyd, meddai Debbie.

"Byddwn yn symud i fyny hyd at lefel 5, y byddwn yn cael achrediad ar ei chyfer gan olygu wedyn y gallwn gynnig y cyrsiau i golegau ac unrhyw grŵp oedran pa lefel bynnag y mae ganddynt ddiddordeb ynddi."

"Bydd y prosiect hefyd yn cynnwys agweddau addysgol eraill sy'n ymwneud â diogelwch mewn afonydd, gan gynnwys ymweliadau ag ardaloedd peryglus penodol ar afonydd yn ogystal â thaith o gwmpas y Pencadlys Achub ar y Mynydd pryd bynnag y bo'n bosib."

Meddai David Jones o International Rescue Training Centre Wales: "Mae gan Debbie ddull cyfathrebu gafaelgar ac yn cyfleu ei neges mewn ffordd bwerus a dylanwadol nad yw'r bobl ifanc hyn yn ei hanghofio."

Ac wrth gwrs dyma adeg bwysicaf y flwyddyn i fod yn addysgu teuluoedd am ddiogelwch o gwmpas afonydd yn ôl Debbie, sydd hefyd wedi datblygu'r map diogelwch dŵr cyntaf erioed yn y DU, offer ar-lein arloesol sy'n amlygu pob man peryglus mewn afonydd ar draws y DU.

"Gyda'r ysgolion ar fin gorffen dros yr haf a chan ystyried y tywydd ofnadwy sydd gennym ar hyn o bryd, mae hyd yn oed yn bwysicach i ni drafod diogelwch o gwmpas afonydd", mae hi'n esbonio.

"Dyna'r rheswm y bu farw fy mab. Aeth e i Gapel Curig gyda'i gyfeillion fel yr oedd wedi bod yn ei wneud trwy'r flwyddyn. Cawsom gawod drom a greodd raeadr. Cafodd ei sugno i lawr mewn trobwll, cafodd ei droed ei ddal a daeth e byth yn ôl i fyny."

"Mae wedi bod yn daith feddyliol ofnadwy. Mae'n sioc ac mae'n arswyd pur pan glywch y newyddion. Oni bai eich bod wedi byw trwy hyn mae'n amhosib ei ddychmygu. Nid oes dim byd yn waeth na cholli plentyn a dyna pam dw i'n gwneud yr hyn yr ydw i'n ei wneud nawr. Chris oedd fy ffrind gorau a'm henaid hoff cytûn. Ef oedd fy mywyd i."

Colli Chris oedd yr hyn a ysgogodd Debbie i sefydlu River and Sea Sense: "Dechreuais ar y prosiect hwn dair wythnos ar ôl i'm mab farw ac rwyf wedi siarad â 62,000 o blant ers hynny," meddai.

"O'r sgyrsiau dw i wedi'u cael, mae diffyg gwybodaeth pobl am ddiogelwch ger y dŵr yn frawychus. Trwy'r prosiect hwn a thrwy addysgu pobl, fy nod i yw achub cynifer o fywydau â phosib. Mae'r prosiect yn cyfiawnhau'r ffordd yr wyf yn teimlo, ond gwn na fydd erioed yn dod â Chris yn ôl."

"Pan glywaf ar y newyddion am bobl yn cael eu hysgubo i ffwrdd, mae'n dod â'r cyfan yn ôl i mi. Bob tro yr wyf yn clywed am ddamwain arall ar y teledu neu'r radio mae'n teimlo fel ddoe, ac rwyf yn ôl yn y lle yr oeddwn i."

Mae neges ddiogelwch Debbie ar gyfer pobl yr haf yma yn glir: "Peidiwch â gadael i'ch plant fynd y tu hwnt i'ch golwg a pheidiwch â thanamcangyfrif nerth y dŵr," meddai.

"Unrhyw le y mae mynyddoedd ac afon yr haf yma, yr hyn y mae angen i chi fod yn ymwybodol ohono yw nad yw'n bwysig pa mor gynnes y mae y diwrnod hwnnw - bydd tymheredd y dŵr sy'n dod i lawr o'r mynydd mor oer â'ch oergell gartref. A dyna'r ffordd symlaf o'i ddweud e. Mae'n gwbl wahanol i'r hinsawdd y tu allan. Ac mae angen hefyd i bobl sylweddoli bod glannau'r afon yn cael eu herydu, yn enwedig mewn tywydd fel hyn, felly mae angen iddyn nhw fod yn ofalus iawn wrth gerdded ar lan yr afon gan y gallai'r tir fod yn ansefydlog, ac fel allent gwympo i mewn. Blwyddyn ar ôl i'm mab farw, bu farw bachgen bach arall ychydig i lawr yr afon o le y boddodd Chris. Roedd e allan am dro gyda'i fam ac fe lithrodd i mewn a boddodd. Gwnaethant weld e'n cael ei ysgubo i ffwrdd a doedd dim byd y gallent ei wneud."

Ychwanegodd: "Mae angen hefyd i chi fod yn ymwybodol o gerrynt terfol - mae llythrennol yn tynnu eich bywyd i ffwrdd ohonoch chi. Gallwch gael eich dal mewn creigiau o dan y dŵr, a dyna beth ddigwyddodd i Chris."

Gan annog mwy o grwpiau yng Nghymru i ymgeisio am ariannu, meddai Gareth Williams, Rheolwr Rhaglen Arian i Bawb y Gronfa Loteri Fawr yng Nghymru, "Mae'r prosiect hwn yn enghraifft dda o sut gall symiau bach o arian wneud gwahaniaeth mawr i fywydau pobl yn y cymunedau mwyaf anghenus. Dyna pam rydym yn annog mwy o grwpiau a phrosiectau cymunedol i fanteisio'n llawn ar fuddion y rhaglen hon."

Ychwanegodd: "Neges syml sydd gennym - os oes gan grŵp cymunedol syniad ar gyfer prosiect sy'n cefnogi gweithgaredd cymunedol, yn estyn mynediad a chyfranogiad, yn cynyddu sgiliau a chreadigrwydd neu'n gwella ansawdd bywydau yn eu hardal yn gyffredinol, yn bendant rydym am glywed oddi wrthynt."

I gael mwy o wybodaeth am River and Sea Sense a sut y gallech chi elwa ohono, ewch i www.riverandseasense.com neu e-bostiwch debbie@riverandseasense.com. Mae Debbie hefyd wedi datblygu'r system adrodd am foddi a damweiniau cenedlaethol, y gallwch ddod o hyd iddi yn www.watersafetymap.co.uk

Darparodd BBC Capture Wales raglen lle greodd Debbie ffilm fer y gwnaeth ei llunio a'i chynhyrchu ei hun, ac mae hi bellach yn dangos hyn yn ei holl gyflwyniadau http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/arts/yourvideo/media/pages/debbie_turnbull_01.shtml