New research aims to dispel myth around ethnicity and floating

The damaging narrative that people from Black and Asian communities have heavy bones are therefore less buoyant than people from white communities has led to a belief that men, women and children from these communities either struggle to float or cannot float.

Scientists and academics are now working with the Black Swimming Association (BSA) and Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) with the aim  to prove definitively that there is no physiological reason why people from ethnically diverse communities cannot float in water.

The research, conducted by the University of Portsmouth and partnering with King’s College London (KCL), will examine floating techniques, as well as the body composition of participants from African, Caribbean and Asian communities, to understand whether biological factors contribute towards their floating ability.

In England and Wales, 14 per cent of the population live within 1 km of waterways but this rises to 21 per cent for people from African, Caribbean and Asian communities. The most recent Active Lives data highlights that 96.5 per cent of Black adults and 81.8 per cent of Black children in England do not participate in swimming activities regularly, nor do 95.8 per cent of Asian adults (excluding those who identify as Chinese), and 79.4 per cent of Asian children. 

In addition, data from the National Child Mortality Database shows that children of African, Caribbean and Asian heritage in England are 3.5 times more likely to drown, compared to White and White British children.

Danielle Obe, co-founder and Chair of the BSA, said: “Water safety and aquatic activity are not just  recreational pursuits; they are essential life skills that everyone should have equitable access to.

“It’s a myth that some groups of people are physically less able to float because of their race, but it’s a myth that most definitely exists predominantly in relation to Black communities. This relationship so many of us have with water, our swimming ability (or lack of) and our bone density goes back generations.

“The real challenges are social and cultural. By uncovering these challenges, we can better understand the unique experiences, perceptions, and needs that must be addressed to not just inspire, but to empower all communities to find their own place in the water safely.

“It’s important to us that this study is being led by the community, for the community. It will help challenge the negative stigmas, narratives and relationships that our communities have with the water."

Dr Heather Massey, from the University of Portsmouth’s School of Psychology, Sport, and Health Science, said: “A person’s physical ability to swim is not so clear cut as some people believe.

“Swimming is a tiring and very technical activity which requires practice, but not everyone has access to facilities or the opportunity to become more confident in the water. We recognise there are a number of barriers for people from Black and Asian communities, and we hope our research will help dispel fears that an individual’s race or biological composition prevents them from floating. 

“We also want to encourage more people to take part in water-based activities, and enjoy the UK’s beautiful waterways safely.”

In the UK, around 400 people accidentally drown each year, which equates to one person dying every 20 hours, and around half never intended to enter the water. 

About 60 per cent of people who die on immersion in cold water do so in the first minutes due to cold shock. The risk is further increased if the individual thrashes about or attempts to swim at this time.  

As a result, the RNLI in collaboration with the University of Portsmouth, developed the ‘Float To Live’ water safety message. However, because body type and body composition can affect a person’s buoyancy, the advice and guidance needs to be tailored to groups and communities across the UK.

Gareth Morrison, RNLI Head of Water Safety, said: “We are incredibly proud to have been partners with the Black Swimming Association (BSA) since 2021 and to be working together to reduce drownings in the African, Caribbean and Asian communities in the UK and Ireland.

“The RNLI is 200 this year and as our charity enters its next century our vision remains to save every one. To do that we must strive to reach as many people as possible, therefore an essential part of our lifesaving partnership with the BSA is ensuring that our water safety advice is effective for all our communities.

“That’s why this new groundbreaking research is so important, and we are delighted to continue our long-standing relationship with the University of Portsmouth who the RNLI has collaborated with on many projects, including the development of our ‘Float to Live’ safety advice.

“We know this advice has saved many lives and we hope to refine that safety messaging further based upon the findings of this research to help as many people as possible enjoy the water as safely as possible.”

The study will extend research underpinning the RNLI’s ‘Float To Live’ campaign, as well as the BSA’s #OurSwimStory. The #OurSwimStory research project identified significant barriers to safe aquatic engagement among African, Caribbean and Asian adults and presented recommendations to increase water safety awareness and aquatic participation.

Professor Mike Tipton MBE, co-founder of the University of Portsmouth’s Extreme Environments Lab (EEL), explained: “In general, because human tissue, overall, is less dense than water, humans should be able to float, regardless of race, gender, age, or shape. In some cases a small amount of activity may be required to help active floating.

“Average water temperatures in the UK are low, which increases the likelihood of the cold shock response. But we know from existing research that floating can reduce the risk of death, as it’s both more energy efficient and an easier way to maintain the airway above the water for the minute or so it takes the cold shock response to pass.”

The study will take place in London at the pool in Southwark’s Downside Fisher Youth Club and at the KCL campus. The BSA and University of Portsmouth research team will work with 170 people aged between 18 and 60 from Black and Asian communities in London who have mixed aquatic ability. The process will take a maximum of 4-5 hours.

The participants’ body composition will also be measured by taking their height, mass, chest, upper arm, hip, waist, thigh and calf circumference as well as lung function, buoyancy and floating technique. The researchers will also use a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scanner; a type of medical imaging test, which uses very low levels of x-rays to measure bone density.

This information will lead to more bespoke public information around the appropriate techniques needed to comfortably stay afloat in water, and consequently reduce the number of preventable drownings.