A 16-year-old boy has tragically died after getting into difficulty in a lake in Lincoln, just weeks after another teenager drowned at the same nature reserve. Lincolnshire Police were called to Swanholme Lakes at approximately 5:50 PM BST on Thursday. The boy was taken to hospital, where he passed away shortly before 9:00 PM, despite initial signs of responding to treatment.
This latest fatality follows the death of 15-year-old Declan Sawyer, who also drowned at Swanholme Lakes on 24 May. An inquest into Mr. Sawyer's death confirmed drowning as the cause. The repeated tragedies have sparked renewed concern and calls for enhanced safety provisions at the popular but hazardous site.
Following Mr. Sawyer's death, Biff Bean, an independent councillor for Hartsholme ward, advocated for an increase in ranger services across Lincoln's parks. In response, the City of Lincoln Council stated that new safety measures, including a trial for a patrolling safety warden scheme, would be discussed at a meeting scheduled for today, 14 July.
The council previously acknowledged that while it operates a park ranger service covering areas such as Hartsholme and Swanholme Lakes, "open water will always carry risks that no single measure can remove." This sentiment was echoed by a police spokesperson, who issued a warning about the inherent dangers of swimming in open water, particularly during warm weather. They highlighted that "conditions beneath the surface can be unpredictable and potentially life-threatening."
The double tragedy underscores the critical need for vigilance and public awareness regarding the risks associated with open water swimming. As temperatures rise, authorities are keen to reinforce the message about staying safe and avoiding dangerous bodies of water, even if they appear calm on the surface. The community in Lincoln is grappling with the profound impact of these losses, prompting a re-evaluation of how best to protect young people enjoying the city's green spaces.