Here's why you should NOT go swimming in wild water around Northamptonshire

Lifesavers have issued a stern warning NOT to go swimming in Northamptonshire's open waters, rivers and quarries.

Groups of adults were spotted taking a dip in waterways across the county during last month's mini-heatwave.

The warning comes after another media outlet published articles promoting which areas of the county are best to go swimming while indoor pools remain closed by the Covid-19 crisis.

But Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue prevention team leader Darren Carson insisted: "These stretches of water are simply not safe for this to happen.

"I recognise it can be very tempting for people to want to take a dip, particularly on a warm day, and many people – children and adults – may feel strong and confident entering waterways because they know they can swim well.

"What they haven’t factored in is just what cold water shock can feel like, which is known to completely incapacitate the body, making it impossible for someone to save themselves.

"And if someone then has to be rescued, it can lead to potential risk for other people too."

The only open water swimming allowed at any of Northamptonshire's country parks is at Sywell — and then only during supervised sessions.

Waterways and rivers all hide weeds, undergrowth and other hazards that swimmers could become tangled in. The warning also applies to many other lakes and quarries across the county.

With the school holidays just around the corner and warmer weather on the way, when even more children will be at home or searching for local days out, NFRS and managers of the county’s country parks are keen to make people aware of these important messages.

Northamptonshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Corporate & Community Services, Cllr Sandra Naden-Horley, said: “We understand that during warmer weather swimming in lakes and ponds can seem appealing, but even the strongest of swimmers can find themselves caught up in objects hidden beneath the water’s surface or at risk of cold water shock.

“We want people to visit our country parks and enjoy the amazing scenery and beautiful landscapes, but we urge people to please wait for leisure centres to re-open before thinking about swimming.”

Anyone who would like to experience safe open water swimming can contact [email protected] for information on the supervised open water swimming sessions led at Sywell Country Park.