Hundreds of pounds raised for family of 14-year-old boy who drowned at nature reserve near Scunthorpe

It's going to be spent on new warning signs at Ashby Ville, which show the faces of those who died there

Author: Aaron RenfreePublished 27th Aug 2021

Hundreds of pounds has been raised for the family of a 14-year-old boy who drowned at a nature reserve near Scunthorpe.

Kai Gardner-Pugh died while swimming in Ashby Ville last month.

Over ÂŁ600 has now been raised in his memory.

"He was such a lovely boy"

Leyonie Hodges is a close friend of the family, she told us how they're going to spend the money.

"We’re going to start making awareness down at Ashby Ville itself.

"We’re thinking of putting posters down there with the faces of all the people that have died down there, one obviously being Kai’s to try and deter people from swimming in it."

Tributes at Ashby Ville

She says it was heart-breaking to see people swimming in the same place he died the very next day.

"He did everything right, he was good to everyone, just a good kid, everything in life he was doing well at.

"Sometimes I feel like he’s just going to come down the stairs again like he used to, and come out with one of his little remarks or something.

"But it doesn’t happen."

You can donate here.

#GetWaterWise

Lincs FM is continuing to highlight the risks of open water swimming as part of our #GetWaterWise campaign.

Cold water, unexpected currents and hidden machinery can all play a part in causing deaths.

Over the past 5 years, 27 people have accidentally drowned in Lincolnshire.

It's after a 40% increase in the number of cases. In 2019 there were 5, rising to 7 in 2020.

Last year, the county had the 10th highest number of accidental drownings.

Follow this advice, and stay safe around water

During hot summer days, lakes, rivers, reservoirs and the sea can look really tempting.
But beneath the surface can lie hidden dangers, cold temperatures an unexpected currents.
The Royal Life Saving Society has this advice to stay safe.

Look out for lifeguards

If you're looking for a place to cool off always find a lifeguarded swimming site.

It’s colder than it looks

Water at open water and inland sites is often much colder than it looks, cold water can affect your ability to swim and self-rescue.

Don’t go too far

Always swim parallel to the shore, that way you're never too far away from it.

It's stronger than it looks

Currents in the water can be very strong. If you find yourself caught in a riptide – don't swim against it – you'll tire yourself out. Swim with the current and call for help.

Bring a friend

Always bring a friend when you go swimming so if anything goes wrong you've got someone there to help.

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