Commonwealth swimmer Michael Gunning is urging everyone to think carefully about water safety this summer.

Gunning, 31, was born in Farnborough in Greater London and has represented both Britain and Jamaica in swimming internationally.

The butterfly specialist played a crucial role for Team England at Birmingham 2022 as an in-venue host for the swimming and para swimming events, as well as helping open Birmingham 2022 Pride House.

With his roots in the Caribbean, Gunning is acutely aware of the lack of water safety in the Jamaica and across all Commonwealth counties.

Drowning Prevention Week is one of the largest summer water safety campaigns across the UK and Ireland and Gunning is urging people to be careful around water this summer, citing how swimming is not just a hobby and a sport, it is ultimately a life skill.

"I've represented Team Jamaica and unfortunately out in the Caribbean, there is still a high percentage of people who can't swim," he said.

"In Jamaica and across all the Commonwealth countries, the statistics are rising.

"We really want to try and do our bit to make sure that everyone knows the can learn.

"You don't have to go on and be an international swimmer, swimming can save your life, it's a life skill so we're really just trying to raise awareness."

According to Sport England’s latest Active Lives Children and Young People survey for the 2023-24 academic year, 30% of children in Year 7 are unable to swim 25m competently, confidently and proficiently, a statistic that has risen from 27% in 2017-18.

While in a report issued in September 2024, it found that there were 125 child drowning deaths across England in the last four years.

Gunning himself started swimming at the age of four and joined Beckenham Swimming Club three years later.

He admitted that he originally had a fear of water growing up due to the cold and as his parents were not strong swimmers, but went on to conquer the fear and become an international swimmer.

"Growing up I wasn't always a fan of swimming," he said. "I didn't like the cold water.

"But I think looking back at the different skills that I had, it's given me so much confidence.

"I had a speech stutter when I was younger and was just petrified to go up on stage and suddenly now I can swim with big audiences and I'm proud to be myself.

"I think that's what swimming has given me."

Drowning Prevention Week runs from 14-21 June 2025. You can find more information on the campaign here: https://www.rlss.org.uk/pages/category/drowning-prevention-week-campaign