A series of fatal incidents at beauty spots across England during the Bank Holiday heatwave has led to renewed warnings about the risks of swimming in open water.
At least five people, including four teenagers, died after getting into difficulty in lakes, reservoirs, rivers and the sea as soaring temperatures drew crowds to outdoor beauty spots.
Police in West Yorkshire confirmed that a 13 year old boy died after entering the water at Leadbeater Dam near Halifax on Monday afternoon. Emergency services were called after reports that the teenager was struggling in the reservoir. He was taken to hospital but later died. Officers said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident.
Hours later, emergency crews were called to Kingsbury Water Park in Warwickshire after concerns were raised for a teenage girl in the River Tame. The 16 year old was recovered from the water and pronounced dead at the scene. A family member told the BBC that the girl was unable to swim and that another teenager attempted to rescue her.
In South Yorkshire, specialist search teams recovered the body of a teenage boy from a lake at Rother Valley Country Park after he was reported missing in the water on Monday evening.
The tragedies followed the death of 15 year old Declan Sawyer, who drowned at Swanholme Lakes near Lincoln on Sunday after reportedly getting into difficulty in the water. His family later appealed for greater awareness of the dangers linked to swimming in rivers and lakes during periods of hot weather.
A separate incident in Cornwall also claimed the life of a man in his 60s after he entered the sea at Tregirls Beach near Padstow to help two relatives who were struggling in the water. Police said he suffered a cardiac arrest during the rescue attempt.
The incidents happened during unusually high temperatures across much of the UK, where official heatwave conditions were recorded in several areas.
Water safety organisations have warned that open water can be far more dangerous than many people realise, even in warm weather. Reservoirs, lakes and rivers often remain extremely cold beneath the surface, increasing the risk of cold water shock, which can cause panic, breathing difficulties and sudden loss of strength.
The Royal Life Saving Society said accidental drownings tend to rise during spells of hot weather as more people seek relief in unsupervised swimming spots. Campaigners have also stressed that strong swimmers can still encounter serious difficulties due to hidden currents, steep drop offs and underwater hazards.
Safety experts are urging people to avoid entering unfamiliar open water and to choose supervised swimming areas where lifeguards are present. They also advise against attempting rescues by entering the water, warning that untrained rescuers can quickly become victims themselves.
Top Tips from the National Water Safety organisation include:
- Know where you are swimming and check out the conditions before going in
- Go with friends who know how to help.
- Check out local knowledge and advice
- Look out for safety signs. Follow the advice.
- Before entering the water, make sure there is a safe entry and exit point.
- Swim parallel to the shore and not into deep water.
- Stay in your comfort zone.
- Avoid weirs, locks and other structures.
- Don’t enter the water if it is polluted (e.g. looks dirty, is a strange colour or smells).
Make sure you are properly equipped
- Wear a wetsuit. It will help keep you warm and provide some buoyancy.
- Use buoyancy aids if you are not a strong swimmer.
- Footwear will help stop you slipping and protect your feet when getting in and out of the water.
- Goggles allow you to see underwater obstructions.
- A high visibility swim cap shows where you are – especially valuable if there are boats passing by.
- Cover cuts or grazes with waterproof plasters before going in.
Beware of the cold
- Don’t go in if you are feeling very cold before you start.
- Be ready for the shock when you go in.
- Get used to the cold before swimming in deeper water.
- Limit time in cold water. Stop if you are shivering or after 20 minutes.
- Be ready for cramp. Stay shallow to stand up or use a buoyancy aid.
- Make sure you can get warm after swimming.
- If you want to drink alcohol, do it afterward not before.
Anyone witnessing a person in trouble should call 999 immediately, encourage the casualty to float on their back if possible, and throw a buoyant object such as a football to help keep them afloat until emergency services arrive.
For more advice check out: https://nationalwatersafety.org.uk/media/1145/open-water-swimming.pdf
