New charity promotes ‘Stay Safe On Holiday’ message to 18-30s to fight epidemic of accidental deaths of young Brits

Exactly a year ago, Jack Howe aged just 19, was killed in an accident on a rented quad bike, on his first ever lads’ holiday in Zante, a day before he and his seven friends were due to return home.

It was in the morning. Jack was sober and alert. He was an outgoing, but sensible boy. In his inexperience, he just took a corner a bit too fast.

The rental company had advised against helmets. They make you sweat, they said. And they had only needed to see one UK driving licence between several teenagers. Jack had never been on a quad bike before.

In 2019 at least 94 British people, a high proportion of them in the 18-30s age group, died in holiday accidents in Europe*. Like Jack, most of them would have been uninsured, undertaking what are perceived as risky activities - excluded from most travel insurance policies. Many of these deaths would have been preventable.

A year on - and Jack’s twin sister Lucy, older sister Hannah, parents Tony & Steph and three of their close circle have launched the JackTheLad Foundation - #JackTheLad, for short.

#JackTheLad’s charitable aims were set out well before the current COVID crisis but their ‘Stay Safe On Holiday’ raison d’etre is especially relevant in this emerging new world, where albeit with some restrictions, holidays in Europe’s beach hotspots are about to begin again as the UK & Europe release themselves from lockdown.

#JackTheLad has two charitable aims. First and foremost, the idea is to make young holidaymakers more alert to the risks they face.

As Jack’s sister Hannah says; ‘“We want to raise as much awareness as possible of our ‘stay safe’’ message, because we never want another family to suffer in the way we have suffered. Nobody can realise the impact it has on a family until it happens to you. Please take the message seriously; stay safe on holiday but still have fun, have a lovely time.”

Whilst the focus is on awareness and the prevention of unnecessary deaths, if the worst happens, the charity will assist families of uninsured youngsters with repatriation costs. The charity knows, from the bitter personal experience of its founders, that having to bring a child’s body home is one of the most awful experiences any family can go through. If there is financial pressure added to that, the devastation is compounded.

The impetus behind the charity has come from Jack’s sisters and their huge network of friends, who have raised almost £50,000 through fundraising events and gained 2500 Instagram followers. #JackTheLad T-shirts have been seen all over the world as friends and followers took summer and winter holidays last year - and hundreds have already pledged not to rent quad bikes.

The sense is, as we come out of lockdown and from a universal ‘stay safe’ message, there is a fresh appetite across the nation to be mindful of risk.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has already thanked #JackTheLad, in a letter to their local MP Tom Tugendhat, for their work in keeping young people abroad safe.

“#JackTheLad’s strapline is “LIve Life. Don’t Lose It.” Which in a nutshell says - have lots of fun on holiday...but on certain occasions just take care, question your actions, think about the possible consequences and hold back a little “ - says Tom Muirhead, a Trustee, who also supports with marketing for the charity.

A new range of #JackTheLad holiday merchandise such as hoodies, T shirts and caps featuring the ‘Live Life. Don’t Lose It.’ slogan goes on sale today (Sunday 21 June) at jackthelad.org.uk with every penny going to the charity, to help keep our young people safe abroad.

*Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) Consular Data on assistance provided to British nationals worldwide.