AIBU to think all kids should be closely supervised around water?

[LittleAndOften]

DH and I went out for the day today to a seaside town. We were walking around a large, man-made boating lake (not sure how deep but it has giant pedalos on it) . There were some kids, maybe aged 7-8 playing on the edge with nets on sticks. As we approached, a girl lost balance, twisted and fell in. She went under but surfaced and quickly got herself to the side before I needed to jump in (not sure I could have helped in the water much as I'm very pregnant but I'd have tried!). DH and I pulled her out and checked her over. She was shocked but ok. The other kids had run off to get the parents who were sat at least 100 metres away on a bench and not supervising. They would have been too far away to see the incident or to help had we not been there.

AIBU to think this was an accident waiting to happen and the kids were too young to be unsupervised around the water? I'm interested to hear what ages and supervision levels people think are appropriate.

Is it possible she was a competent swimmer?

I would not automatically think to jump in after a child that age, unless they were having difficulties. I may be wrong there.

I do broadly agree children should be supervised, as there can be currents or dangers they may not know about. But I also think that assuming you must jump in after a child in no distress is perhaps overkill?

FWIW, aged 10, I could swim a few miles and regularly swam in much colder water than lakes - I would have been shocked at an unexpected fall, but I would also have got myself to the side quickly, and would have been mortified to see my parents - who weren't stronger swimmers - taken to task.

No you are not being unreasonable. Every year without fail there are completely avoidable drowning tragedies involving children.

She was shocked and panicked when she fell in, so my instinct was to jump in as it was impossible to tell which was it was going. She did get herself to the side, but it wasn't recognisable as 'strong swimming', she was flapping about a lot. It was scary to see.

a girl lost balance, twisted and fell in.

This is the type of situation which could be dangerous even to a strong swimmer, if they hit their head. And shallow water can be worse than deep if you go in headfirst ... growing up at the seaside with breakwaters it's one of the things that's drummed into you.

Jumping in to 'help' if you don't know what you're doing and actually can help isn't a great idea though.

regularly swam in much colder water than lakes - I would have been shocked at an unexpected fall, but I would also have got myself to the side quickly,

I assume you, unlike many, knew about cold water shock and what to do? (Not applicable to a boating lake in summer, but worth knowing about elsewhere)

rnli.org/safety/know-the-risks/cold-water-shock

Where were the pedalo staff?

@WorraLiberty other side of the lake

That does sound really scary.