A sign near Timble in North Yorkshire
By Mike Berriman
Yorkshire Water have teamed up with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service to produce a chilling video on the dangers of swimming in reservoirs this summer.
In the last five years, WYFRS have been called out to around 346 water rescue incidents – 20 of which resulted in deaths.
The video coincides with the start of the school summer holidays and is aimed at young people who are the most likely to be tempted to swim in open water.
With temperatures as low as 12ºC, depths of up to 50m and undercurrents lurking beneath the surface, the film aims to highlight the often unknown dangers of swimming in reservoirs.
Alastair Harvey, Recreation Advisor at Yorkshire Water, said: “Reservoirs may look tempting to take a swim in but they can be killers and our dramatic film will hopefully raise awareness of these risks amongst young people. Cold water shock can lead to hyperventilation, increased blood pressure, breathing difficulties and heart attacks plus water temperatures remain just as cold in summer as in winter.”
The video is being shared and supported on twitter by schools in the region with the hashtag #coldwaterkills.
3 deaths at Manvers Lake in recent years. Beware of the dangers of swimming in lakes this summer. https://t.co/8Jv3sTm1Vi #coldwaterkills
— Wath Comprehensive (@WathCompSchool) July 17, 2015
There was a total of 381 drownings and water-related deaths in the UK in 2013, with over half occurring in inland waters, such as reservoirs, lakes and rivers.