Eight-year-old Josh Hillstead died after being swept away by an undercurrent while paddling in the River Arrow in Alcester during a family walk on July 23, 2024. Josh, who was less than two hours away from his ninth birthday, was with his sister Caitlyn-Ann, then 10, and their stepmother at the time. Caitlyn-Ann, who is autistic, attempted to rescue her brother by jumping into the water and holding his hand, but Josh became too tired and slipped from her grasp before they could reach the bank.

The children had been staying with their father, Carl Hillstead, who had been teaching Josh to swim in the days leading up to the incident. When the accident occurred, Carl entered the water in an attempt to help but was unsuccessful. Several bystanders also tried to assist. Following the rescue efforts, Josh was rushed to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where he suffered constant seizures. After medical staff placed him on life support, his family made the decision to withdraw treatment. His mother, Becky Hinde, described holding Josh as his heart stopped beating.

In the days following the tragedy, Becky struggled to return to their family home, confronted by the sight of her son's belongings, including a Sonic the Hedgehog jumper he had worn before the summer holidays. She has expressed deep pride in her daughter’s bravery and emphasized Josh’s loving nature, noting that his school had established a kindness award in his name.

Since her son’s death, Becky has joined the Save Lives for Sam campaign, a water safety initiative named after Sam Haycock, a 16-year-old who drowned in Ulley Reservoir, South Yorkshire, in 2021. The campaign is supported by organizations such as the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and the Royal Life Saving Society UK. They have called on the government to take urgent action amid rising concerns over drowning incidents linked to repeated heatwaves across the country. At least 29 people have died in open water during the last two heatwaves, highlighting a growing public safety issue.

Becky warned that as temperatures rise and heatwaves persist, the risk of similar tragedies increases. She stressed the indiscriminate danger posed by natural water bodies, noting that “water doesn’t care who you are, how big you are, how strong you are, it will take you.”

The campaign urges increased public awareness and government measures to prevent further drownings, emphasizing the emotional toll on families and the importance of water safety education. Becky said her involvement is driven by a desire to spare other parents the suffering her family endured, hoping her son’s death can help save lives.