An official has revealed people have broken into a quarry for swimming, which was the site of two deaths over a decade ago, despite the ‘dangerous’ conditions at the site
People have continued to break into a closed quarry, which was sealed off following the deaths of two young men over a decade ago, despite a trust warning the site was “really dangerous”.
An official revealed people “continually breach the safety fencing” and claimed some people were even swimming in the quarry over the Bank Holiday weekend. It came after the number of people who have died in water-related incidents during the latest UK heatwave tragically reached 17, including a 13-year-old girl and 72-year-old woman.
The chief executive of the Malvern Hills Trust, Deborah Fox, revealed people were still using a lake at the closed Gullet Quarry, in Worcestershire, to cool off during the hot weather, despite the tragic past.
Fox said: “Over the May Bank Holiday weekend we did have the people swimming in the quarry. They broke into the quarry and were swimming, and this is really, really dangerous.”
She added: “It’s very, very important that when people see or hear warnings not to go swimming in a quarry that they heed them for their own safety.”
The chief executive added that the site has been closed for years following the heartbreaking deaths of two men, saying: “Here in Malvern, we have the Gullet Quarry, which was very sadly closed years ago following the deaths of two young men, who drowned in the quarry lake in 2013.”
Russell O’Neill, 17, died on July 6, 2013, and Justas Juzenas, 22, died just days later, on July 22. Coroner Roland Wooderson, at Hereford Town Hall, had recorded the two deaths as accidents.
Continuing her warning on the quarry lake, Fox added: “It’s not worth the risk and you could be putting yourself or others in serious danger. It’s incredibly cold in the water, and cold water shock can seriously affect the muscles and breathing of even strong swimmers, which can lead to drowning.”
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued warnings about cold water shock and the risk of drowning during the recent warm weather. Cold water shock is the body’s natural physical response to being suddenly submerged in cold water and can lead to drowning.
Anyone who enters cold water suddenly is at risk, whether they accidentally fall in or deliberately jump, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said. It added that cold water shock can strike anyone, regardless of their ability to swim.
Seventeen deaths have been confirmed following water-related incidents across the UK amid the heatwave last week. A 13-year-old girl has become the 17th person to die after she went missing in the River Wharfe, near the Skipton area or Yorkshire.
The young girl was found and airlifted to hospital, just after 6.30pm on Sunday, but sadly died. A woman in her 60s died while trying to rescue her dog who was stuck in the sea, in Thornton-Cleveleys, on Saturday evening.
The youngest victim so far was identified as 12-year-old Junior Slater, who got into difficulty in the River Ribble, Lancashire Police said. In a tribute, shared by the police, his family said: “Our little blue-eyed boy. He will be truly missed. He was the life and soul of our lives. Words can’t describe how we are feeling right now. We will forever love you Junior.”
