Don't go into the river, the water's not fine!

Diana Fleming made her plea 20 years to the month after her boyfriend, Darren Helly, drowned in the Arun just days before they were to become engaged.

Even more poignantly, she discovered three weeks after Darren's death that she was pregnant with his child.

Now, with the anniversary of his death on June 16 approaching, Diana, 37, has urged youngsters to think about the risks of swimming in the Arun, the country's fastest-flowing river.

"Over the last couple years, my mum, my daughter and I have been horrified by the sight of youngsters who take no safety precautions at all when they are messing about in the river.

"I have seen them swimming across the mouth of the river when there have been boats going up and down. They don't seem the slightest bit aware of the very strong currents, or that there might be fishing line and other obstacles to trap them.

"I would like them to see more sense. There also needs to be more education of children in water safety, and more lifebuoys along the river. Children are taught about the dangers of roads and the railways, why not the river, too? The river is not a playground.

"The accident changed my life completely. I had to bring my daughter up without her father and she has had to grow up without knowing him. Being pregnant with Laura helped me to cope and gave me a reason to keep going.

"You never get over this kind of thing. I often think about Darren, and how different it might have been.

"I just want to try to prevent someone else going through what I have had to go through."

Diana, who lives in Clun Road, hopes to organise a get-together of Darren's friends for the 20th anniversary of his death.

Darren had been swimming across the Arun north of the A259 bridge near the old Wick Farm camp site, when he got into difficulties. His friend, Anthony Hockham, and two passers-by tried to rescue him, but were beaten back by the current. Darren's body was found five days later.

Littlehampton harbourmaster Colin Hitchcock backed Diana's call for youngsters to take notice of the dangers around the river and sea.

"Every year I do talks to all the primary schools in the area about river and sea safety, and to schools visiting the harbour. Children need to be aware of the strength of the currents here.

"There are safety warnings beside the public steps down to the river, and lifebuoys at regular intervals along Arun Parade, on our pontoons and the riverside walkway, but unfortunately these are regularly vandalised," said Mr Hitchcock.

On Saturday, the Marine and Coastguard Agency launched its Sea Smart campaign, warning parents and children to take extra care when at the coast, following an 18 per cent rise in incidents last year.