Youths are still "dicing with death" at the quarry where a 16-year-old died at the weekend.
Residents in Appley Bridge said teenagers are still flocking to the quarry to beat the heat. Emergency services swarmed to the quarry at Dawber Delph, Appley Bridge at around 9.40pm on July 9 after reports a boy had entered the water and got into difficulty.
A body was recovered from the water after a search. Jamie Lewin, from Southport, was found dead at the scene and police said his death is not being treated as suspicious. Jamie's mum, Steph Lewin, said: " He really was one in a million. I'm so happy I was his mum. He was only 16 and so full of life and so happy."
READ MORE: First picture of 'one in a million' boy, 16, who drowned in quarry
Jamie's death at East Quarry follows two previous deaths in 1999 and 2015. Miracle Godson, a 13-year-old promising rugby player died after getting into difficulties in the quarry's deep waters. 16 years before Craig Croston, 17, also drowned.
The community, reeling after the weekend's tragic news, claimed youths continued to try and access the quarry within hours of the incident. Sarah Stephenson, who lives opposite the scene, said 50 youths were at the quarry on Sunday night.
She said news of the teen's death had not been widely known until late on Sunday evening. She told LancsLive : “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 (Monday) I saw 12 (youth) just walking down the path, a group of six, a group of four and another group that I witnessed while I was down there. 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 recalled the last time a teen died at the quarry. She added: “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.”
West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper has now called for the quarry to be drained "as a matter of urgency". Ms Cooper said: "Although the police, owners and local authorities have consistently done what they can to secure this quarry to advise and prevent people from swimming in the lake, the size of the site has proved this difficult. Whenever we have a period of good weather, this has led to young people ignoring advice and warnings not to swim in the quarry.
“The quarry must now be drained as a matter of urgency, and I am calling on Lancashire County Council to give the final approval to any pending applications for the developers to begin draining the quarry.”
Officers from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service were at the quarry on Monday afternoon talking to youths. A spokesperson for the service said fire crews spoke to the group about water safety.
Mark Winder, Area Manager of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "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.
“Finally, we urge parents to have conversations with their teenage children about water safety. There are materials available on the Royal Life Saving Society’s website to help parents learn more about water safety.”
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