Council’s open-water swimming warning

With summer here, St Helens Council's Safer Communities Team would like to remind residents on the dangers of open-water swimming.

The announcement comes following reports of people using Colliers Moss Common Lake as a way of cooling off during the recent hot weather.

St Helens Council's Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Councillor Lisa Preston stressed the importance of staying clear of lakes, ponds and reservoirs as temperatures soar because of the fatal consequences swimming in these types of environments can often lead to.

"Under no circumstances must anyone attempt to swim in open-water," Councillor Preston said. "Sadly, this type of risk has resulted in tragic outcomes in the past and even the strongest of swimmers can become overwhelmed by the ice cold water and drown.

"Swimming is an activity many of us enjoy during the summer months but this should be done in supervised areas only such as leisure centre swimming pools."