Tragic reminder of reservoir deaths

Picture: Staff from UU’s catchment and estates team, Paula Steer, United Utilities’ health, safety, wellbeing and estates services director, joined Jenny Harrison, Mayor of Oldham, trustees from charity Life for Life, including Major Edward Hardaker, water safety advocate Beckie Ramsay and students from Waterhead Academy in Oldham to plant the 5,000 tree at Strinesdale in Oldham.

A poignant reminder of tragic drownings in one of the region’s reservoirs was marked with the planting of the 5,000th memorial tree from charity, Life for Life, on United Utilities land.

Staff from the North West water firm joined by Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Jenny Harrison,  and trustees from Life for a Life Memorial Forest to mark a milestone for the charity of planting its 5,000th memorial tree.

The event at Strinesdale was attended by water safety campaigner, Beckie Ramsay, who has been raising awareness of the dangers of open water swimming after her 13 year old son Dylan tragically drowned in 2011.

Beckie says: “When I lost Dylan everything changed, and I made the decision to spend the rest of my life doing whatever I can to help prevent another mum going through what I have. 

“Dylan was a strong swimmer and he became a victim because he didn’t know the dangers of swimming in open water.”

                                               Summer drownings

Every year around 400 people in the UK and Ireland accidentally drown according to the Royal Life Saving Society UK which runs a Drowning Prevention Week every June. 

Nearly two thirds of accidental drownings happen in inland waters, 44 per cent occur during the summer and 80 per cent of victims are male.

United Utilities’ health, safety, wellbeing and estates services director, Paula Steer, said: “A reservoir drowning is devastating to witness, many of my team have never recovered from the experience. 

“Of course, for the families involved the loss and grief they feel is unimaginable.

“What makes it even more tragic is that it is such a waste of a life, often a young life, and something that should have been prevented.

“Swimming is prohibited at all of our reservoirs. Regardless of how warm the weather is, our advice is crystal clear. A quick cool off in one of our reservoirs could be fatal. Cold water shock can kill even strong swimmers in just 60 seconds. Don’t risk it.”

The company has clear signage at all of its reservoirs explaining the dangers of swimming and runs a hard-hitting reservoir safety campaign every year. 

Previous campaigns have included a ‘horror-style’ film and a moving play inspired by the tragic deaths of two North West teenagers, to educate schoolchildren and young people about the dangers of swimming in reservoirs. 

UU  has also installed throwlines at 20 locations around eight reservoirs across Greater Manchester and Lancashire, each dedicated to the memory of someone who lost their life.

Emma Scott, deputy chief executive for Life for Life, commented: “Our partnership with United Utilities has helped the health and wellbeing of 5,000 families and their friends, who can sometimes suffer greatly because of the pain losing a loved one can cause.

“It has also enabled Life for a Life to raise charitable funds, which are donated back to local health related organisations, not to mention the countless visitors who enjoy these developing forests.”

For more information on reservoir safety visit https://www.unitedutilities.com/about-us/recreation-sites/reservoir-safety/

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