Bawsey Country Park: Lake death man's family horrified by swimmers

People went into the water at Bawsey Pits over the weekend, when temperatures topped 30C (86F)

The family of a man who died after getting into difficulty in a lake said they were "horrified" by the number of people still swimming there, despite warnings to stay out of the water.

Radek Gina, 20, had been swimming at Bawsey Country Park, near King's Lynn, Norfolk, on 16 June before he died.

Swimming is banned at the lake, which is also known as Bawsey Pits, but it proved popular at the weekend.

Mr Gina's aunt, Violet Cunningham, said this made her feel "physically sick".

The country park said it shared its no swimming policy online and with signs, but according to Mrs Cunningham up to 100 people were in the water at one time over the weekend, as temperatures topped 30C (86F) in East Anglia.

Radek Gina died after getting into difficulty while swimming at Bawsey Country Park

She said there were signs saying "no swimming" but people were breaking the rules.

"It makes me feel physically sick to be honest, I was horrified," she said.

"I could see it happening all over again for another family."

Floral tributes were left at the lakeside when Radek Gina died

Mrs Cunningham said more could be done by the country park to keep people out of the water.

"They're not doing anything different. It's gut-wrenching to be honest," she said.

"They think the signage that they've got is adequate and it's working, but it's not working. "

Violet Cunningham said she was "horrified" by the number of people in the water at 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.

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

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

Bawsey Country Park said it promoted its no swimming policy through social media, "extensive" signage and its multilingual website, posters and leaflets. It also has a park warden.

"People are ignoring signs to stay out of the water, lakes, streams, and rivers all over the country," it said.

"We will continue to ask people to respect our rules and stay out of the water at Bawsey Country Park."

Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service has supported a scheme to raise awareness about the dangers posed by swimming in former quarries.

A leaflet states that they can include "sudden, unexpected changes in depth" and swimmers could be at risk of cold water shock.

It says this can cause you to "gasp involuntarily and inhale water, a very rapid increase in your breathing and the onset of panic".

"A deadly combination that can drown even strong swimmers within seconds of entering the water," it adds.