COMMUNITY safety leaders are warning people about the dangers of swimming in open water.

The Dying to be cool campaign, which is supported by Darlington Borough Council, Durham Police and County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, urges youngsters to think twice before going into rivers or open water before acclimatising first.

Last week marked the fifth anniversary of the death of teenager Cameron Gosling, from Crook, in County Durham, who died from cold water shock after he jumped into the River Wear near Bishop Auckland, on July 5, 2015.

Councillor Jonathan Dulston, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for strong communities, said: “We’ve already seen groups gathering around our local rivers during the recent warm weather and while we know lakes, rivers and beaches can be enticing, youngsters need to remember cold water can kill.

“Around 40 – 50 children drown each year in the UK as a result of cold water shock and other hidden dangers such as strong currents. We want to prevent other families having to go through what Cameron’s family has, that’s why we fully support the ‘Dying to be cool’ campaign.”

Neighbourhood Inspector Chris Knox, from Durham Police said: “As the warm weather is likely to continue, we’d like to remind people about the perils of playing in or diving into the water, having been in the sun and then entering the water, cold water shock can seriously impair a person’s ability to swim.

“We’ve seen a number of tragedies in other parts of the country and we are keen to do anything we can to prevent a needless loss of life in County Durham and Darlington.

“Entering the water while under the influence can also have devastating consequences and we’d advise strongly against that. We simply want to reinforce the message that open water, whether on the coast, lakes or rivers can be life-threatening and would encourage people to stay out of the water where they can.”

Glen Stewart, community safety manager at County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service added: “The coronavirus pandemic has seen many more people exploring and enjoying the beautiful county that we live in and we want everyone to be able to enjoy the outdoors safely. We understand that going into open water can be tempting, especially when it is warm and sunny, but we are encouraging all members of the public not to take risks.

“Although the water looks inviting from the surface, it is still cold enough to induce Cold Water Shock, not to mention the dangers lurking beneath that you cannot see from the surface. Don’t swim in open water unless there is a lifeguard, always let someone know where you are going and call 999 in an emergency.”

The usual programme of assemblies has not taken place this year because of the pandemic but schools have been provided with footage from one from last year.

In the footage, Cameron’s mum Fiona Gosling tells children about how the family has been impacted by the loss of Cameron.

To find out more about cold water shock and ‘Dying to be cool’ visit www.durham.gov.uk/dyingtobecool