SOUTH Yorkshire Fire and Rescue bosses have teamed up with Yorkshire Water in a bid to warn local residents about the dangers of entering open water.
There are eight reservoirs in Barnsley - including in Langsett, Elsecar and Worsbrough - and the Be Water Aware campaign urges daredevils to stay out of them.
The latest figures indicate there were 226 accidental drowning deaths in 2022 across the UK with six taking place in Yorkshire - three in West Yorkshire, two in South Yorkshire, and one in North Yorkshire.
Approximately 60 per cent of all accidental drownings in the UK occurred inland, at reservoirs, lakes and river.
The National Fire Chiefs Council campaign outlines that many people underestimate the risk of entering the water.
Ade Parkin, group manager in South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue’s community safety department, said: “Open water can be incredibly dangerous if it is not treated with respect.
“Attending water rescue incidents can be incredibly traumatic for our crews and members of the public.
“It can be tempting to cool off but do you really want it to be the last thing you do?”
Alastair Harvey, lead countryside and woodland advisor at Yorkshire Water, added: “With the summer approaching, we’re expecting to see an increase in numbers of people wanting to swim.
“We know how dangerous it can be to enter open bodies of water, like our reservoirs, and would urge everyone to take note of warnings at our sites.
“Out of all 2022 accidental drownings, 40 per cent of people had no intention of ever entering the water - slips, trips and falls were commonly the cause of these incidents.
“Water safety goes beyond choosing not to swim or paddle to cool off - it’s also about remaining vigilant around the water, particularly if you are looking after children.”
