Cold water can take your energy and your life, warns mother of drowned teenager

Piethorne Reservoir

The Canal & River Trust is urging people to stay out of the water in the North West this summer. As the temperature heats up, the temptation to cool off in a local waterway increases, but so do the dangers.

Summer is one of the most popular times for people to visit Britain’s canals, rivers and reservoirs, and last year was the busiest on record with more than 65 million visits made by boaters, cyclists, runners, walkers and canoeists to the waterways in the North West. However, when the weather warms, the temperature of the water remains very cold and while the temptation to cool off in a local waterway increases, so do the risks.

Mel Goodship’s 17-year-old son James drowned in June 2014 while swimming with friends in Foulridge Reservoir, Lancashire. Mel says: “James used to mess around in the water with his friends; he was a strong swimmer so we just thought he’d be fine. We had never sat our children down and explained the dangers of the water, I didn’t really know what they were myself. The shock of the cold water paralyzed his muscles, took his energy and took his life.

“Learning about water safety is as important as learning about road safety and not talking to strangers. If you’re thinking about getting into any stretch of water which isn’t supervised, please don’t. Don’t be another statistic like James. Don’t get in the water, it’s just not worth it.”

The Trust, which manages 226 miles of canals, rivers, reservoirs and docks in the North West, is urging visitors to remember that although they may be fit and strong on land, you can’t train your body for the shocks of unseen dangers under the water. The risks include:
Canal and river water is usually murky so you can’t see the depth – it could be much shallower than you expect it to be and cause serious harm if someone jumps in, as well as being much deeper than expected in other areas. 

• Reeds and other plant life which can get tangled around limbs and keep you in the water; 
• Rubbish, like shopping trolleys, which can trap your feet as well as cause injury;
• Low temperatures which can cause the body to go into cold shock and even hypothermia, drawing the blood away from your muscles to protect your organs. This can lead to drowning; 
• There are waterborne diseases such as Leptospirosis (Weil’s disease) 

Chantelle Seaborn, waterway manager for the Canal & River Trust in the North West explains: “Canals and rivers are brilliant places to go to on hot days, and excellent for families to explore during the holidays – I’d encourage anyone to make a visit this summer. But it’s also important that people, especially children, are aware of the dangers of cooling off by going for a dip. We always urge parents to make sure their children know how to stay safe.

“The water may look inviting on a hot summer’s day, but any open body of water can pose a hazard as the water can often be extremely cold and can bring on cramps in even the strongest swimmers. You just can’t train your body for the effects of the cold water and the other hidden dangers lurking beneath the surface like reeds or rubbish which swimmers could get caught up in.”