Police urge students in Wakefield NOT to swim in local lake
West Yorkshire Police received reports children plan to go swimming in a large lake in the Durkar area
Last updated 14th Jul 2025
West Yorkshire Police are urging parents and carers to speak to their children, after reports students from Ossett and Horbury academies are going swimming, in a large lake in the Durkar area of Wakefield today (Saturday 12 July).
Police will be making extra patrols in the area.
In a post on Facebook, the force said: 'Everyone deserves to enjoy the outdoors without risk - and with the right education, accidental drownings are preventable.
'Talk to the young people that are close to you, remind that swimming in open water is extremely dangerous.
'Hidden dangers can be beneath the surface of ponds, lakes and flooded quarries, as well as slippery rocks and sudden changes in water depth.
'They might be hot and fancy taking a dip to cool down, but cold-water shock can kill.'
If you see someone in trouble in the water, people are asked to call 999, ask for the fire service and tell the person struggling to float on their back.