Cambridgeshire lakes will 'always be risk' to safety, warns group
It's one year since Dishone Lloyd drowned at Burnside Lakes
Water safety in and around a private lake in Cambridgeshire continues to be a problem, an environmental group has warned.
It is one year since Dishone Lloyd drowned after getting into difficulty while swimming in Burnside Lakes, Cherry Hinton on what was the hottest day of the year.
An inquest held in February into the 16-year-old's death heard he was one of around 30 youths who was trespassing at the lakes.
"People did used to go in there, even though it was private," Sue Wells, from the Friends of Cherry Hinton Brook, said.
"I think then, it was much more local people who knew the dangers and it's only been in more recent years it has become a problem."
'Definitely dangerous'
The inquest heard from Dishone's mother Ketema Davis, who said he did not tell her that he would be swimming in the lakes.
In a statement read by the coroner, Detective Inspector Susie Hine said that the private site is leased by a fishing club and is fenced off with "clear signage stating it is dangerous".
"There's no beach; the edge goes straight down, I know the water is incredibly cold and it is definitely dangerous," Sue said.
"It is attractive because you look through the vegetation and you can see this big expanse of water.
"I think most weekends, there will be a security guard there; it isn't advisable to try and get in there (the lakes) anymore."
Lakes will 'always be a risk'
At the inquest, area coroner Elizabeth Gray concluded that Dishone died as a result of an accident and drowned.
Ms Gray said that there "had been a suggestion he had a heart issue over the last year, however, this was checked and nothing was detected".
Since last August, two teenagers have died after getting into difficulty while swimming in lakes within the county.
Sue believes there "always will be a risk" around safety at Burnside Lakes, and that raising awareness is one of the only things that can be done.
"I think it's been quite a deterrent; the police are now involved, but I think word has spread that this really isn't the place to go," she added.
"I think people were absolutely shocked last year when this happened and hopefully the message has spread, so that there's no longer messages telling people to come up to Cambridge for that (open water swimming)."
There are more details on cold water shock and how to deal with this here.