Humberside fire and rescue warn of water dangers

Recent years have seen deaths in local waters

Pond
Author: Andy MarshPublished 29th Mar 2024

There’s a stark warning today for people in East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire to be careful when walking near open waters.

Recent years have seen local deaths due to going into the water.

Humberside Fire and rescue are urging people to stay clear of lakes, ponds and reservoirs as banks can be slippy.

We spoke to Jonathan Clark who's the water safety lead for the service.

The vast majority of people who end up in the water actually didn't intend to go in there in the first place

He told us: "Open waters and rivers and waterways are naturally beautiful but dangerous places."

"Slippy riverbanks can give way quite easily and suddenly you could end up in some sort of very cold water which gives an instant cold water shock."

"There are places where it could be quite fast flowing - stepping stones or rocks in rivers."

"Should anyone you're with end up in the water the first thing you should do is dial 999 and ask for the fire service."

"Then after that look around for life saving equipment."

"Our statistics show locally and nationally that the vast majority of people who end up in the water actually didn't intend to go in there in the first place."

"It is about slips and trips".

"Particularly dog walkers and joggers or people just out for a walk along the riverbank".

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