A woman whose brother drowned in Bristol Harbour has issued a warning to those attending the Harbour Festival this weekend. Brooklyn Sheehan died in August 2019 at the age of 17, after jumping into the water near Prince Street Bridge to retrieve a football.
His sister Chloe Sheehan, 22, has spoken out about her brother's story to urge people not to be tempted to enter the water during the heatwave.
In a statement posted on social media, she said: "I have sat here everyday watching how it has broken not only me but everyone else who knew and loved him too for some of us it’s too painful to even hear his name at times and all of this we are going through is because of one split decision he made just three years ago next month.
Read more: Swimmer sparks huge 999 response along River Avon in Bristol
"He jumped into the harbour to retrieve a ball him and his friends were playing with by the Arnolfini and within 30 seconds he said the words that will haunt me forever “someone’s got to come and get me”, despite the rescue efforts my darling little brother vanished beneath the water and was not found until 12 hours later the next day resting at the bottom of the harbour which is recorded to be basically 6ft deep."
The family was told that the fact Brooklyn was drinking and the shock of the cold water contributed to his death. His heart stopped working, which caused him to drown.
She continued: "When hit with the shock of the cold water Brooklyn’s body went into panic and “overload” so to speak… which meant the boy who was able to swim from a party boat to the coast and back couldn’t even swim more than an arms reach away from the platform that sits at water level."
Football and swimming were two of his favourite things and activities, something he had done so normally and naturally his whole life only for those to be the exact things that cause him to leave us all so early, Chloe said.
"Saturday (July 16) will be my birthday and instead of enjoying myself I will be sat on my brother's memorial bench at the harbour, on high alert just watching and waiting for someone to need saving, I will be surrounded by family and friends but his face will be one I don’t get to see that day or ever again."
Last year, the family said they were concerned about a campaign to allow swimming in some areas of the harbour, in case it gives people a false sense of security about entering the water.
At the time, Chloe said: "I'm not angry about it, I'm genuinely concerned. I understand people want to have their freedom but I'm concerned about the possibility of other families having to feel what we went through.
"I wouldn't wish what we have been through on the devil himself."
Swimming in the harbour is currently prohibited under local by-laws, with Bristol City Council and other authorities arguing that it is too dangerous. Patrons at Harbour Festival have been warned not to be tempted to get into the water in the scorching heat.
Under no circumstances should visitors enter the water. Entering the water presents significant risks including cold water shock, boat strike, hazardous objects under the water, strong currents, and illness and infection.
On Saturday (July 16), a swimmer sparked huge concern after they were spotted in the River Avon. It led to a huge emergency response from fire, police and ambulance crews. It appeared the swimmer was in there voluntarily.
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