A WOMAN whose son died from cold water shock after jumping in a river is warning other youngsters of the dangers.

Fourteen-year-old Cameron Gosling died in summer 2015 after entering the River Wear without getting his body used to the water temperature.

The former pupil at Parkside Academy in Willington had been playing with friends near Bishop Auckland.

His mother, Fiona, from Crook, is now visiting County Durham schools in a bid to prevent other children losing their lives.

Mrs Gosling said: “Life has never been the same for us as a family since Cameron died.

“By speaking about what happened my hope is that children will be aware of the risks when jumping into rivers and that they are less likely to get into difficulty.”

The assemblies are part of the Safe Durham Partnership’s Dying to be Cool campaign, which seek to raise awareness among ten to sixteen-year-olds of cold water shock.

They will also feature representatives from County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, who will be showing schoolchildren the equipment used in water rescues.

Last year’s assemblies took in six schools in the Bishop Auckland area, reaching 3,360 children.

So far this year, 12 assemblies have been arranged at ten schools and colleges.

They began at Tanfield School on Monday and will run through until May 10 at Woodham Academy.

Paul Diston, assistant headteacher at St Bede's Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Lanchester, which hosted an assembly on Thursday, said: “The assembly was a very powerful reminder to us all about the dangers of a seemingly innocent activity.

“Our students are privileged to hear such a strong message delivered in the personal manner in which Fiona spoke.”