Rutland lifeguards warn against illegal open-water swimming this heatwave
Rutland Water Aqua Park trains 30 lifeguards every year
Lifeguards are advising anyone in Stamford and Rutland thinking of taking a dip in open water during this week's heatwave to spend an hour at Rutland Water's Aqua Park.
It's after Greatest Hits Radio launched its #GetWaterWise campaign to remind us of the dangers of open water swimming.
The highly-popular Aqua Park returned after the brunt of the COVID Pandemic last year, seeing a return of visitors from all over the UK - with one thrill-seeker even flying in from Australia to have a go.
One of the UK's biggest outdoor inflatable water parks, it's actually one of the few legal open-water swimming areas available in Rutland.
For that reason, the Aqua Park lifeguards are encouraging anyone needing to cool off in the heat this week to take on the inflatable assault course challenge - one which is sure to leave you in the water.
Not worth the risk
With July being one of the worst months for water-related fatalities, and with experts fearing a rise in the number of accidental drownings this summer due to stay-at-home holidays, a lack of swimming education and warmer weather - it's key to remember how to stay #WaterWise.
Aqua Park Site Manager and Lifeguard Riain Kilgour said:
"We train 30 lifeguards every year to the highest standards set out by the RLSS and these are then implemented and trained regularly throughout our summer season.'
'Always go to a safe water spaces like here at Aqua Park Rutland, lifeguards are on duty all day. I know it looks tempting but canals, quarries, can have their own dangers. Unknown water depth, submerged objects or even fast flowing currents.'
Lifeguard Tom Wiggins said:
'Swimming in a pool is a lot different to swimming in open water. I think people think it's the same, I come from a pool background and open water is completely different - temperature, depth...'
'Safety is the biggest priority for us, when people come swimming you don't know the depth of the water you don't know the temperature, people get confused because the weather's nice and hot outside but the temperature of the water doesn't change, it will only gradually heat up.'