Bawsey Country Park: Swimmer dies in lake

Radek Gina died after getting into difficulty while swimming in a lake

A man has died after getting into difficulty while swimming in a lake at a country park, police said.

The 20-year-old, named locally as Radek Gina, was swimming at Bawsey Country Park, King's Lynn, on Wednesday, one of the hottest days of the year.

He was treated by paramedics at about 16:00 BST before being pronounced dead at the scene.

Norfolk Police said an investigation was being carried out into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Swimming is banned at the lake, which is also known as Bawsey Pits.

In August 2020, Kristers Bednarskis, from Peterborough, drowned while celebrating his 22nd birthday with friends at the local beauty spot.

A 16-year-old boy from east London, and a 41-year-old man also drowned at the pits in 2013.

Radek Gina died less than a year after another young man died while swimming at Bawsey Pits

Rescue teams were called out to the country park to attend a fatal swimming incident in August 2020

Floral tributes were left at the lakeside where Radek Gina died

Mr Gina's friend, Anthony Trower, said they would catch up on a weekly basis for a drink and to play pool, which "he loved".

"It's very sad," he said. "He was very happy, Radek, always smiling, always with green fingers from the chalk on his cue.

"My ongoing memory of him will be pool, snooker. He loved it. He'd win tournaments, he'd do everything.

"Whenever I'm on a pool table now he'll be the first I'm thinking of."

Swimming is banned in the large lake at Bawsey Country Park in Norfolk

The country park was created on a number of disused sand pits and quarries.

Its website states that swimming is not allowed in the two lakes.

The owners of the park offered "sincere condolences" to the family and friends of the man who died.

In a statement, Bawsey Country Park said it had "worked closely with relevant authorities" to improve safety, including installing six emergency throwlines around its lakes.

But, it said, "we need our visitors to help us" and urged people to "please stay out of the water so that no future tragedies occur".