The tragic death of Rehaan Akhtar, who fell into Bristol harbour on a night out last November, has once again raised the question of safety issues. It is believed that Akhtar was out with friends and wandered off at some point. The next morning his body was found in the harbour. Very sad. 13 people have accidentally drowned in the city between 2014 and 2022. Should the council be installing more safety barriers and more lighting?
While we do not know the circumstances of this particular death, or the 13 others, those of us who know the area are aware there are bound to be risks associated with it. Until 1975, the Floating Harbour, as it is called, was a working harbour. Since then, the area has been successfully renovated to include a variety of top end housing, bars, pubs and restaurants and museums, all the white retaining elements of its history, like the enormous cranes that still dominate the skyline. Is the answer simply to erect more safety barriers and extra lighting and if so, where?
The Floating Harbour covers an enormous expanse of land and water. What if the council was to erect fences and barriers all the way around it, effectively denying all access to the waterside? There is a fair chance that less people would fall into the water, but the aesthetic affects would be terrible, blocking the wonderful views around the area. And it would cost the local council taxpayer a fortune, too. Would extensive fencing have a significant effect on the number of visitors who, let’s face it, boost the local economy to a significant degree? I’m not saying we should do nothing to make the harbour safer, if we can, but that’s the thing: it is still a harbour, rich in history, even though the purpose of the area has now changed.
If we are considering more fences and better lighting, that’s all well and good, but I feel there’s something else we need to do. Bristol’s Harbourside economy is heavily dependent on its bars and restaurants and anyone who has been down there, especially at weekends, has seen countless visitors who are, shall we say, somewhat the worse for drink. Being drunk late at night by a harbour has the potential to be a lethal combination. The vast majority of people, drunk or not, manage to safely navigate the area, but as we have seen a tiny minority have sadly lost their lives. Perhaps, these are the people to whom the message needs to be drummed home. This is an harbour, the water for most of the year, is extremely cold, it is not easy to scramble away from the harbour if you fall in. If you are going out on the lash, stay close to your friends, stay away from the waterfront. It is not just the responsibility of the local authority, it is yours, too, and that of your friends and relatives. It is wise, therefore, not to be alone during the early hours.
Akhtar’s family came across very well on the local media and were certainly not calling for widespread extreme measures to prevent further such tragedies. Perhaps, there are things that the council, in combination with local businesses, can do to lower the risk of people falling in the harbour, appropriately placed railings and specific extra lighting where it is considered people might be particularly at risk. No one wants to see more innocent people drowning.
So, as well as doing what we can to prevent tragedies, it’s about education, too. Two years ago, the Bristol student Jack O’Sullivan left a house party in the Hotwells area in the early hours, never to be seen again. It has been one of the biggest stories in the city in recent times. Hotwells is at the end of the Floating Harbour, on the other side is the the Avon Gorge, with the Clifton Suspension Bridge sitting high above it. The river section is tidal and massively so. We do not know if O’Sullivan went into the water – in fact, we know nothing about his disappearance at all – but if he went into the river, perhaps it is not surprising he has never been found. It is a terrible reminder that we must always be respectful of nature and its components. Our city was built, in part, on the basis of our maritime history. It’s worth bearing that in mind every time we visit the place and keeping ourselves safe.
In reality, there is only so much you can do to make somewhere safe. At some point, it is imperative that we take responsibility for our own actions and our safety. This is not a criticism of anyone: just a simple fact of life.
But more than anything, it is so sad to hear about stories like these. I hope we can do more to ensure we learn the lessons of such tragedies. There is no single fix, just a combination of practical measures and individual responsibility. One tragic death is too many. Let’s hope there aren’t anymore.
