A man has helped launched a water safety campaign after his father drowned in the sea three years ago.
Robbie Jones released a film with the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) about the “devastating impact” of the loss of his father on the anniversary of his death.
Gareth Jones, 69, did not return from his walk with the family dog, Connie, in Hove, on Saturday 16 January 2021. CCTV confirmed that he had gone into the water after her.
Despite an extensive search by the RNLI, coastguard, Sussex Police and others, the pair were not found and their bodies were washed ashore days later.
Mr Jones said: “I lost my rock that night at just 24 years old. I lost the guy I could talk to about anything and get crucial life advice. My dad was everything to me and to our family.
“Dads die but they aren’t meant to drown. And not so young.
“I don’t want anyone else to ever have to go through that and if talking about it can help, then it is important I do it.”
The film shows Mr Jones tell his story of losing his father and hopes to educate people about the dangers of open water in bad weather.
The 27-year-old said: “It is my way of honouring him and making something positive out of the worst thing to happen.”
Members of the Coastguard, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and the RNLI were involved in making the film and some of them were present for the film’s launch today at the Watchmaker’s Arms, in Hove.
Gareth was a much-loved regular at the pub, in Goldstone Villas, where he is commemorated on a plaque.
NWSF chair Dawn Whittaker, the Chief Fire Officer of East Sussex, said: “We want to thank Robbie for his willingness to talk to us about the worst moment of his life and to help to create such a powerful and heart-wrenching film.
“We think his story will really resonate. Everyone can imagine the horror of losing a parent to drowning but no one should. We hope the film will encourage people to have conversations around water safety and share advice.”
The video is available on the #RespectTheWater website and on YouTube.
People are advised to call 999 and ask for the coastguard if someone is in trouble in the sea or ask for the fire and rescue service for inland water incidents.
At his inquest, the coroner Veronica Hamilton-Deeley said: “He was a competent swimmer but it would have made no difference. The state of the sea seemed out of proportion with the weather conditions.
“It all seemed to happen so quickly. Gareth goes in to rescue Connie. He was overcome almost immediately.”
At the Brighton and Hove Coroner’s Court, at Woodvale, Miss Hamilton-Deeley said that Mr Jones went into the sea almost exactly when the tide was at its highest.
And he was on a stretch of the shore with a “shelf”, she said, adding: “There’s a huge drop which catches people out. At high tide, it creates an undertow.”
The brief CCTV footage showed a big wave. Miss Hamilton-Deeley said: “What chance he had was lost when that wave came.
“In all the circumstances, you really wouldn’t have expected him to have done any different – even though you wish that he would.”
Connie the brown cockapoo was part of the family – and Miss Hamilton-Deeley said: “People say you shouldn’t go into the sea after your dog, but who wouldn’t?
“If you love your dog and she’s part of the family, of course you would. If you saw a member of your family in danger – human or otherwise – you try to help them.
“In its own way it was a heroic act.
“With great regret, I will record a verdict that Gareth died an accidental death. And if I could hold an inquest for Connie, I would draw the same conclusion for her too.”
Robbie has since bought a dog of his own, Otis, and is determined to learn and to help others learn from his father’s death.
