Health director warning over open water swimming

A director of public health has shared her "extreme concern" at reports young people are swimming in dangerous areas of open water.

North Northamptonshire Council's Dr Jane Bethea expressed her unease in an open letter shared on the authority's website.

Bethea said people had been seen swimming at The Embankment in Wellingborough, where teenager Ronalds Abele drowned in 2024.

Her warning comes ahead of rising temperatures for the rest of this week, and following multiple fatalities nationally during last month's heatwave.

The director of public health said the council had alerted partners including Northamptonshire Police and Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service after "younger residents" entered the water earlier this week.

She wrote: "They were not only seen swimming in a spot which is known to pose danger, but they also appeared to be unaccompanied by an adult.

"I urge you all to listen when I say that I advise strongly against swimming, paddling or jumping in all undesignated waterways.

Bethea said that many popular swimming spots were not regulated and do not have "on-demand safety staff" to assist if danger arises.

Risks of swimming in such conditions include cold water shock and unseen dangers such as strong currents or objects under the water that a swimmer could become tangled in.

"The water can and does kill," Bethea warned.

Anyone who sees a person in distress in the water is asked to call 999 immediately, and, if possible, use the What3words app to describe the exact location.

They are also advised to tell the person in the water to float on their back and if possible throw a buoyancy aid instead of entering the water themselves.

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