I've also read the comments under the petition and could only see one comment from someone who lost a loved one 'in this river', though I read several from people who had lost friends or family members in drink/water accidents generally, presumably elsewhere.
There's a more balanced, locally based discussion under the link to the petition on the Lewes Presemt facebook group.
I've searched in vain for stats showing how many people have accidentally drowned in the Lewes stretch of the Ouse and would be really interested if anyone else can find them.
On a more general note, and I mean absolutely no disrespect to Anthony Knott's loved ones, when someone dies in an accident, it's completely natural for those left behind to feel that 'something must be done' to help them feel that a life that was so important to them was not lost in vain.
Similarly, if there's any suggestion that entering the water was a deliberate act, there's an understandable tendency to dismiss the idea, as they may feel some almost certainly misplaced guilt that they weren't aware of the state of mind of the deceased and should have done more to help.
