Wigan mum wants to teach children how to stay safe in water in memory of her four-year-old son

Presley Stockton was just four when he died while on a family holiday in Tenerife in September 2018.

Now, his mum Kirsty Jolley wants to teach potentially life-saving swim survival skills to other youngsters to ensure they know what to do in water.

She hopes to raise £11,000 to pay for a trip to the USA for a four-week course to learn how to teach these vital skills.

Emma, from Hindley Green, experienced tragedy when her two-year-old son Loui drowned while on holiday in Tunisia in 2013.

Kirsty, 26, said: “I want to do this for my little boy Presley so I can keep his memory alive.

“I’m following in the footsteps of Emma Aspinall. She has been amazing.

“I want to prevent what’s happened to our family happening to other families.”

Kirsty used to work as a carer, but has been at home looking after her younger son Preston, now one, since he was born.

She now wants to turn her attention to helping youngsters stay safe.

She said: “I have been thinking about it for about a year. I have had my doubts, not about the swim survival but going around the pool and thinking about my little boy. I have been going to watch Emma’s lessons and I have been alright.

“I woke up one day and thought I wanted to do it. I definitely want to do it.”

Kirsty will need around £11,000 to pay for the training course and the trip to the USA, so she is now looking at how to raise the cash.

A friend has set up an online appeal and is asking for donations to raise the first £1,000.

Kirsty said: “I am still working on my fund-raising ideas. I have got a lot of help from my family and friends, so we are having a meeting where we will get some ideas together on how we will raise the money.”

Ideas so far include climbing Ben Nevis and a summer fun day, once coronavirus restrictions have been eased.

Last year Kirsty walked up Snowdon with Emma and her husband Gavin, along with other supporters, to raise £1,800 for DoIt4Loui.

She is now determined to collect the money she needs to learn about infant swim survival training in memory of Presley.

Kirsty said: “He’s my little boy. There’s nothing that I want more but to keep his memory alive.

“I wished I had known about Emma’s lessons before I went to Tenerife and lost my little boy.”

Donate at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/hayley-johnsonnew

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