Banning swimming in rivers and lakes?

[thesheriff443]

So in the last week a 13 year old lad and a woman have drowned in a river near me.
The stretch of river in question has claimed the lives of many over the years

People are simply ignoring the warning signs so I’m asking the question should swimming in rivers and lakes be banned?

[user104658]

Simply put... no... we shouldn't be tempted to make everything that carries an element of risk "illegal". You'd have to ban all sorts of activities. You could have wider/more visible campaigns to highlight the dangers, however.

[bots]

i don't think it should be banned, people need to be responsible. It's not like we are not all well aware of the potential dangers

[thesheriff443]

Simply put... no... we shouldn't be tempted to make everything that carries an element of risk "illegal". You'd have to ban all sorts of activities. You could have wider/more visible campaigns to highlight the dangers, however.

But people should go to a swimming pool ?
If not banning entirely how about banning swimming in this section of water?

Is saving people’s lives not worth more than being able to swim in a unsafe river

[Cherie]

Wild swimming !

People have to take personal responsibility and sadly at this time of year we get stories like this, we wouldn't advocate banning swimming in the sea and that claims many lives each year?

All the council can do is put up signs, similar like road signs and maybe highlight how many deaths have taken place and maybe that will focus minds?

[Kazanne]

But people should go to a swimming pool ?
If not banning entirely how about banning swimming in this section of water?

Is saving people’s lives not worth more than being able to swim in a unsafe river

I see where you are coming from sheriff ,but people being as they are will always disregard any banning etc, we've seen that clearly, with Covid rules, some will just do as they want, and think they are invincable

[Crimson Dynamo]

27 people will drown in the next hour worldwide

and every hour after

[thesheriff443]

Yes I do agree people will always do stupid things but it’s such a needless death especially at 13 years of age.

[Zizu]

We can’t stop gangs of youths having a knife fight in Hyde Park in the afternoon so good luck stopping random folk swimming in lakes and rivers up and down the country


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[user104658]

But people should go to a swimming pool ?
If not banning entirely how about banning swimming in this section of water?

Is saving people’s lives not worth more than being able to swim in a unsafe river

But again you could say the same for all sorts of activities; people who go rock climbing could go to an indoor climbing centre, people who go kayaking could use a rowing machine, people who climb mountains could use a Stairmaster at the gym...

I understand in principle especially when it comes to kids/teens who often have little understanding of the risks, but again I think it's more about making sure those risks are hammered home rather than making it illegal.

It should definitely be banned in reservoirs and quarries (where a lot of drownings happen) and I think generally is but then... realistically... who is going to enforce it? You can't guard them 24/7.

But lakes and rivers, I think all you can do is educate about the general risks and have clear signage warning of any specific dangers (like strong undercurrents) and hope that people listen to those warnings.

[arista]

So in the last week a 13 year old lad and a woman have drowned in a river near me.
The stretch of river in question has claimed the lives of many over the years

People are simply ignoring the warning signs so I’m asking the question should swimming in rivers and lakes be banned?


Yes it happens every year in the summer
Never going to change.

[UserSince2005]

No nanny state please.

Stupid people will die either way, rules or no rules, its just a matter of time

[Vanessa]

I was at Ruislip Lake yesterday and everyone was swimming there.
You're not supposed to, it's red flag.

[Zizu]

Plus they’ve never been able to stop the youths somersaulting into the sea on the east coast .. Bridlington and surrounding areas despite all the accidents ..

I think they call it ‘tomb-stoning’ or something


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[smudgie]

No.
Educating people on the dangers maybe but no to banning.

[GoldHeart]

I'll never understand why people ignore warnings, it seems common sense goes out the window.

It's like the idiots that go swimming where there's sharks , I remember a girl lost her arm somewhere in America and then a warning sign was put up :facepalm: .

[Marsh.]

Making swimming in lakes/rivers just illegal full stop is ridiculous.

Maybe where there's particular dangerous places it can be banned in specific lakes/rivers. But people will do what they do.

[Niamh.]

Lake swimming is my favourite type of swimming no way!

[Liam-]

It’s like banning planes because someone died skydiving

[GoldHeart]

It’s like banning planes because someone died skydiving

No you can't completely ban it,but surely the more riskier areas need proper warnings about health and safety.