Boy, 16, dies after getting into difficulty in Lincoln lake

A boy has died after getting into difficulty in a lake in Lincoln, police have said.

Lincolnshire Police was called to Swanholme Lakes nature reserve at about 17:50 BST on Thursday, along with Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue and East Midlands Ambulance Service.

The 16-year-old was taken to hospital and died shortly before 21:00, despite initially responding to treatment, police said.

It comes after 15-year-old Declan Sawyer died after also getting into difficulty at the site on 24 May.

An inquest into Declan Sawyer’s death found he died from drowning.

Since then, there have been calls for more rangers in the city’s parks.

City of Lincoln Council said new safety measures, including a trial for a patrolling safety warden scheme, would be considered at a meeting on 14 July.

The authority previously said it had a park ranger service covering Hartsholme and Swanholme Lakes but “open water will always carry risks that no single measure can remove”.

A police spokesperson said: “While many people are looking for ways to cool down in the heat, we also want to remind everyone of the dangers of swimming in lakes and open water.

“Conditions beneath the surface can be unpredictable and potentially life-threatening.”

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