ANGLERS WHO traditionally view January 1st and 2nd as the prime days to catch the first wild salmon of the year have been advised to guard against the risk of drowning and hypothermia.
Irish Water Safety (IWS), a statutory body set up to promote water safety in Ireland, said angling could be hazardous in early January with slippery riverside banks, larger winter volumes of water and the onset of darkness adding to the danger.
"Many anglers keen to catch the first salmon of the season will engage in late-night and early-morning riverbank fishing, which is made all the more perilous due to the lack of daylight," it said.
"The current cold spell has made riverbank fishing all the more treacherous. Damp grass that freezes results in a very slippery surface for anglers.
"Irish Water Safety pleads with the public to stay safe by staying away from the edge of waterways and to wear a life jacket at all times when engaged in water-based activities." A spokeswoman warned that ordinarily familiar riverbanks may become dangerous and unstable, while falling in to cold water can result in cold shock and hypothermia, which can be fatal.
An average of 160 people drown in Ireland annually. Most of these tragic deaths happen inland, in rivers and lakes, on farms and in and around homes. Careful behaviour can prevent such accidents.
For more information, visit Irish Water Safety's website at www.iws.ie.