'Invisible' swimsuits 'put children at risk of drowning or injury'

‘Invisible’ swimsuits put children at risk of drowning or serious injury, campaigners warn

• Dark-coloured swimsuits can camouflage children below the water’s surface
• Mum Yianoula Philippou filmed son, Lucas, ‘disappearing’ under water in a pool

Dark-coloured swimsuits on sale in major retailers could put children at risk of drowning or serious injury, campaigners have warned.

Blue, black and dark-toned beachwear can effectively camouflage youngsters if they sink below the surface, potentially costing rescuers vital seconds in an emergency.

Experts are urging families to ensure that children are kitted out in bright, neon colours. Mother-of-two Yianoula Philippou filmed her young son, Lucas, ‘disappearing’ under water in a pool during a family holiday to Cyprus while wearing a blue shark-print swimsuit.

Sharing the video online, she said: ‘These cute swimming costumes were brand new from Marks & Spencer for our holiday.

‘I thought the kids would love them because they love sharks… [but] when these costumes go under the water, they disappear. If he was at the bottom of the pool and we didn’t know he was there, I don’t even want to think about it.’

Danger: Lucas Philippou, circled, ‘disappears’ in a pool while wearing a blue holiday swimsuit

The grieving mother of a schoolgirl who drowned off Bournemouth beach while swimming with her siblings believes her daughter’s dark clothing may have played a role in her death. Sunnah Khan was wearing a black T-shirt and leggings when she is thought to have been pulled under by a riptide near the town’s pier in May.

The 12-year-old, of High Wycombe, died alongside Joe Abbess, 17, of Southampton, after being airlifted to hospital. Her mother, NHS nurse Stephanie Williams, 32, said: ‘They could not locate Sunnah for 50 minutes, and she wasn’t in deep water.

‘I think her wearing dark colours impeded their ability to see where she was. If she had been wearing something brightly coloured, they might have been able to see her sooner and she might still be here.’

The mother-of-four has shared her concerns with the coroner overseeing the inquest into the teenagers’ deaths. Miss Williams and Aylesbury MP Rob Butler are to meet bosses at swimwear manufacturer Speedo to discuss the issue.

In a test conducted by water safety firm Alive Solutions, bright neon colours such as orange, pink, green and yellow were the most visible, while blue, grey, white and dark colours performed the worst. Solid colours offered better visibility than patterned swimsuits.

Tory MP Giles Watling, chairman of the all-party parliamentary group for water safety, said it would ‘look at’ the dangers of dark-coloured swimwear.

Marks & Spencer and other stores referred the Mail to the British Retail Consortium, which said retailers offer swimwear in a variety of colours that ‘meet all current safety guidelines’.

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