Teens are still dicing with death at a ‘death trap’ quarry where the body of a 16-year-old was pulled from the water over the weekend, residents have claimed. Emergency services were called to the site at around 9.40pm on July 9, to reports a boy had got into difficulty in the water at Dawber Delph, Appley Bridge.
Tragically, the body of the teen was recovered from the water following a search. The boy, who has not been named, was pronounced dead at the scene and police confirmed his death was not being treated as suspicious.
The death brings the death toll at East Quarry to three, with two previous deaths of teens in the quarry’s dangerous waters in 2015 and 1999. In 2015, 13-year-old Miracle Godson, who was a promising young rugby player, died after getting into difficulties in the quarry’s deep waters. In 1999, Craig Croston, 17, drowned at the Appley Bridge quarry, Lancs Live reports.
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Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said on Sunday (July 10) that three fire engines, a boat and their drone team had been called out to assist Lancashire Police and North West Ambulance Service in the search for one person in the water, but said that tragically, the casualty died at the scene.
Concerns have now been raised from a shocked and devastated community, who were reeling from the weekend's horrendous tragedy. On Monday, residents claimed around 50 youths were continuing to endanger themselves by trying to access the dangerous quarry's waters. Many added they had been campaigning for the disused quarry to be filled in or drained for years.
Sarah Stephenson, a mum of five who lives opposite the tragic scene, said teens had been spotted flocking to the quarry within less than a day of the tragic incident. She told Lancs Live that the news of the latest tragedy had not been widely known until late on Sunday evening.
She said: “I don’t think the news had got round on Sunday, as they were still trying to access the quarry and swimming in there. There were probably about 50 youths down there or more on Sunday. Today I saw 12 just walking down the path, a group of six, a group of four and another group that I witnessed while I was down there.
“Today, there were four lads hanging around the quarry and I said to them, what are you doing lads? They were still trying to get in there to swim today.”
The mum of five, who lives opposite and vividly recalls the last time a teen tragically lost his life in 2015, has one message for them: “You are dicing with death, definitely.
"They are going in there for fun - and coming out in the body bag, and they are carrying on doing that, despite the tragedy of Saturday night. One life is one too many in my eyes.”
Officers from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service were at the scene on Monday afternoon and could be seen talking to youths next to a fence in the vicinity of the disused, water filled quarry. A spokesperson for Lancashire Fire and Rescue said that fire crews had been speaking to youths who were by the quarry fence who had said they were not trying to access the quarry. They said fire crews spoke to the group about water safety in case they did try to access the water.
A spokesperson said: “On Saturday night, our firefighters were involved in the search for the 16 year old boy who tragically died after getting into difficulty at Dawber Delph in Appley Bridge. Drowning is one of the UK's leading causes of accidental death.
"Each year more than 400 people drown after tripping, falling or just by underestimating the risks associated with being near water. Many more people are left with life changing injuries in water related incidents.
“During periods of warm weather, we encourage people to never swim alone, don’t swim too far from the shore and find open water where there is a lifeguard. Despite the air temperature being warm, the water is usually a lot colder than it looks and if there is a current, it could be a lot stronger than you think."
Area Manager, Mark Winder of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service added: “There are many hidden dangers of swimming in open water. The shock of cold water can get even strong swimmers into difficulty, it doesn’t matter how fit and healthy you are, the water is always stronger. The water can be deep, submerged objects may not be visible and it’s difficult to estimate the depth before you get in. Whilst swimmers may be able to enter the water, there are not always suitable places to climb out.
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