The BBC reports that drowning is the second leading cause of death among US children under age 14. Results from a study of 2,000 children suggests that leaving swimming education up to parents has significantly increased risk.

Just under 70% of African-American children surveyed said they had no or low ability to swim. Low ability merely meant they were able to splash around in the shallow end. A further 12% said they could swim but had “taught themselves”.

The study found 58% of Hispanic children had no or low swimming ability. For white children, the figure was only 42%.

“It is an epidemic that is almost going unnoticed,” says Sue Anderson, director of programmes and services at USA Swimming.

Ironically, it is said a parent’s own fear of water is the primary reason they do not help their child learn to swim.

“Fear of drowning or fear of injury was really the major variable,” says Prof Carol Irwin, a sociologist from the University of Memphis, who led the study for USA Swimming.

Typically, those children who could not swim also had parents who could not swim.

A secondary reason is related to a history of discrimination and segregation in America. The opportunities for swimming are not always equal.

The BBC compares the issue to the UK where swimming is required (except in Scotland) as part of the education curriculum, but they do not provide UK drowning statistics.