To ask you to warn/threaten/do whatever it takes to keep your kids out of Lakes in this hot weather

[AlexanderHamilton]

As emergency seadvices have been at a local lake/nature reserve searching for a teenager since 5pm tonight. There were three kids in distress in the water. Two got out. The parents of the third are at the lake as the search continues as darkness falls.

Thanks. My ten year old has just gone on a week long lake based residential trip.

Seriously though I hope the poor child is found OK.

Any news OP on the teenager?

I would assume that your sons trip is properly organised with any water based activities involving supervision & life jackets & instructors knowledge of the water.

An entirely different situation to kids deciding to go for a swim unsupervised in water with reeds, mine shafts & of unknown depth/currents.

police are saying they are still searching.

Very valid point.

A10 year old local to us drowned in a lake near us 12 months ago.

Went missing at 6pm in the water - found at 10pm

Oh god those poor parents.

It’s a very popular spot with cycle paths, a children’s playground, cafe & visitor centre. It would have been packed tonight with kids going there after school.

Is this in Staffordshire?

We lose children in Wales, it is heartbreaking. All our children from the time they can walk have wetsuits to paddle in the sea. They need not be expensive and they can save lives.

Every year this happens. Every time there is a heat wave. You certainly aren't BU OP.

What can we do to stop it happening?

Yes @lunatunes Stoke On Trent

Thought so, this is near where I live I just heard it on the news. Terrible, my heart goes out to the family.

I’ve got a son the same age. He attends an activity in the area nearby. We often go down there to walk the dog. I’ve reiterated the dangers again to him tonight.

Yes it's frightening we can only warn them of the dangers but unfortunately it happens every year. I really don't know what the answer is.

@gammeldragz Like most primary aged kids do at one point or another then... How did you expect her to know that exactly?

Poor kid and their poor parents though.

Forgive me for being ignorant but why are lakes particularly dangerous? Cold - yes. Water weed - yes. Reeds?

Oh Good God no. Clinging to hope that there is a happy ending. However let's be real six hours + missing in a lake isn't looking good, is it. The poor parents. To say they must be out of their minds doesn't even begin to begin covering it and indeed their poor friends.

What’s the problem with lakes? Do you mean lakes with mine shafts like you said which are not suitable for swimming at any time?

Or all lakes for a reason I don’t know

It's rivers and canals as well, sadly. There are regular tragedies where I am - including a teenager who drowned in a reservoir near us. Within half an hour of the ambulance carrying him away, there was a fresh group of young teens jumping in.

Warnings don't work, even personally knowing someone who dies doesn't work. Many teenagers simply don't have the sense of danger, they think it won't happen to them.

Banning them from swimming doesn't work, so I've tried going down the path of attempting to minimise risk - talking to them about drunk swimming, pairing off and watching out for each other, checking for unexpected shallows before jumping in, etc etc.

Open water safety isn't taught anymore. I live in the Lake District and every year people drown (not always children either) because they get out of their depth or it's too cold or they jump and injure themselves/hit their heads.

It's really sad. Wild swimming can be great fun if you're safe!

Well I guess it’s not just lakes it’s any open water.
The water temperature is often a lot colder than you think which if you arnt wearing a proper wetsuit etc can send your body into shock. The depth can be deceiving with sudden changes, you don’t know what’s in there & you can get tangled or swept by a freak current. Lots of reasons.

United utilities ran a campaign a few weeks back warning of swimming in reservoirs which are even worse as they're often very deep immediately, hard to get out of, and very cold because of the depth (not to mention the machinery).

Lakes have sudden drops (and shallows) as well as irregular currents. Canals have rubbish and sharp objects, as well as lock gates to trap the unwary. Rivers also have unexpected underwater hazards.

Inland water can also be very cold, especially in mountain lakes and drowned quarries. Ironically, the sea (which we all think to be more dangerous) is often the safest place for youngsters to swim because there are lifeguards and other people to watch out.

My heart goes out to the parents waiting for news

this happened near us last year