low head weirs (which is what this one is) tend to be more dangerous than larger weirs. At the bottom of weirs and dams you get something called a hydraulic jump, when you get fast flowing shallow water (going over a weir) meeting deep slower moving water the hydraulic jump is closer to the weir causing two very strong opposing currents, making it almost impossible to get out of, even if you are an incredibly strong swimmer. In kayaking the hydraulic jump is known as the ‘keep’ as it quite literally keeps whatever has gone over the weir.
The bubbling water known as boiling water, has a very high oxygen content, which reduces buoyancy.
Most low head weirs are incredibly dangerous and most are totally redundant these days, the best answer is to get rid of the bloody things, then you don’t need a fish pass (most weirs aren’t good for ecology anyway) and you decrease drowning risk.
I can not fathom how someone who had RNLI training did not understand the very basic physics of velocity and depth or at a very simple level currents. Nor can I understand how she allowed a patron to go on the river without a buoyancy aid (although given the hydraulic jump on that day, it probably wouldn’t have helped very much). Or the lack of wet / dry suits. Even most cold water swimmers have some form of neoprene swimming togs (if not a shortie or full wetsuit). Again, though, wet/ dry suits probably wouldn’t have made much of a difference once a person is stuck in a keep, they get tired very, very quickly, and constantly get battered / pulled under by the sheer volume of fierce water.
she played fast and loose with peoples lives, her arrogance, attempt to pass the buck, and lack of remorse was staggering. She deserves the 10 years.
feel incredibly sorry for the families who have lost their loved ones,