Fire service officials have reminded parents of the importance of warning their children over the dangers of open water, after two children died in Northamptonshire within four days of each other.
Two-year-old Giovani Pembele died after falling into a section of the Grand Union Canal in West Cotton Close last Saturday. The previous Tuesday, Daniel McCullagh, aged 15, drowned while swimming in the River nene at Woodford.
A spokesman for Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service said: “Two families in our county have suffered the loss of their children following water accidents and nationally there have been two other high profile cases whereby young people have died in open water.
“Open water can hide lots of hidden dangers even though the water may appear, on the surface, calm and appealing, especially in hot weather. Dangers can include unknown currents, hidden rubbish, underwater tree branches, abandoned fishing lines and structures such as concrete bases.
“Even without these dangers the shock of jumping into open water can be significant even for the strongest swimmer. The sudden cold can make you hyperventilate, making it easy to breath in water and the cold can affect your strength and so impair your ability to swim and to reach for safety.
“Many times it is the rescuer who gets into trouble too and often there may be no-one else around to call for help.”