Grieving mum's warning as children are spotted swimming in Beeston Weir where her son died

She doesn't want to see another life lost in open water

A mum who lost her teenage son after he drowned saving two girls in Beeston Weir has revealed her concerns as more teenagers are lured to the lakes to swim during the heatwave.

Nicola Jenkins, 44, will never forget the night she was told her 12-year-old son Owen had died after jumping into the water to help two girls.

The Chilwell School pupil died on Monday, July 10, 2017, and since then the Jenkins family have been promoting water safety to ensure no more lives are cut short.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has recently announced that people were now allowed to swim in the sea or lakes.

Mrs Jenkins, of Beeston Rylands, said with temperatures rising across the UK, teenagers have been lured to beauty spots to swim in the open water.

This week, three boys were spotted jumping from the locks near Beeston Marina, and two girls were also spotted swimming on the Clifton side of Beeston Weir.

She told Nottinghamshire Live: "Boris' comments about swimming in lakes and the sea has caused an uproar for those dealing with water safety.

"My fear is that people are taking his word. He did not explain it well enough such as only do it when there is professional supervision.

"Do not just go into a river or a lake and think it is a safe place - because it is not."

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Mrs Jenkins has written to the Canal and River Trust and other agencies hoping that warning signs can be displayed around areas where kids have been discovered swimming.

There are already warning signs around some parts of Beeston Weir where Owen lost his life.

"We want to stop this happening over the summer," she added. "We are only in May and we have got another two months until summer holidays.

"We had three lads jumping off the lock on Beeston Weir, towards the Marina cafe. Then there is a lot of people going to the Clifton side of Beeston Weir, having barbecues.

"I saw two girls in the water there the other day.

"Just don't go in. Don't paddle, don't take your children in. It just takes one incident for the water to grab you and then they will be gone.

"You can't see its roughness underneath.

"What we want to do is prevent something like this happening again.

"You are more likely to die than survive."

A spokesman for the Canal and River Trust said: "We thank Mrs Jenkins for her help in highlighting the dangers of swimming in open water.

"The tragic death of her son, Owen, who selflessly lost his life helping others, is a reminder of the dangers.

"Open water can be much colder than expected which can cause even the strongest and fittest to go into cold water shock, plus there can be reeds and other submerged objects below the waterline that pose a danger.

"Our advice is to enjoy being by the water whilst observing all the current social distancing rules, but not to go for a swim."

The government's guidance states "go swimming in either lakes or the sea as part of daily exercise provided that social distancing guidelines are observed."

It does not indicate that supervision is required.