Man in his 20s dies at Cotswold Water Park

A man in his 20s has died at a water park.

Officers were called to Cotswold Water Park, Ashton Keynes, at about 18:00 BST on Monday.

The man was pulled from the water near Whitefriars Sailing Club and was confirmed dead shortly after.

Wiltshire Police said it was not treating his death as suspicious. Cotswold Water Park was "devastated to hear of the tragedy", a spokesperson said.

"We offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the young man who lost his life and to those who witnessed the incident and tried to assist.

"We know it is tempting to want to swim in the Cotswold Water Park lakes.

"They may look inviting but many can be dangerous.

"If you want to swim, please put your safety first and find a lake that is specifically managed for open water swimming," the spokesperson added.

The last death at the site was in July 2019 when Cory Nicholson, 21, from Calne, died while swimming in a lake.

The water park site contains 180 lakes, formed largely in former gravel pits, on the Gloucestershire-Wiltshire border.

The death on Monday follows a number of similar deaths in open water in recent days during the heatwave.

A 14-year-old boy is believed to have drowned in the River Thames on Monday and a 16-year-old boy died in Bray Lake near Maidenhead, Berkshire, the same day.

A a 13-year-old boy drowned when he got into difficulty in the River Tyne in Northumberland on Sunday, and a 16-year-old boy died in Salford Quays, Greater Manchester, on Saturday.

NHS medical director for the South West of England, Dr Michael Marsh, has warned of the dangers of attempting to cool off in rivers and lakes.

"In the rivers you've got to be careful of the currents and the hidden hazards such as weeds," he said.

"In lakes it is absolutely about hidden hazards, and with the sea it's much colder than you sometimes think, because you've got hot you think it's going to be pleasant.

"If you're young fit and healthy, don't jump off cliffs into freezing cold water and think you're going to be alright. It's dangerous," he added.

Open water swimming has experienced a surge in popularity in the UK in recent years and is not inherently dangerous, Dave Knight from Do3 triathlon coaching and events said.

"Open water swimming is an amazing activity for keeping fit and healthy.

"It can be be safely enjoyed, even when the weather is as hot as it is now provided it is done at an organised venue."

His company runs swimming sessions throughout the summer with safety staff on the water in kayaks and spotters on the banks.

Swimmers are also required to wear flotation devices if they are not wearing wetsuits and must wear brightly coloured hats for visibility.

"There is always the risk of getting into trouble, even with the most experienced swimmers.

"Cold water shock, cramp, overheating are all issues that can quickly become serious and a threat to life, but we closely monitor all the swimmers both while in the water and also afterwards when they get out," he added.

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