Case Study: Water Safety at Ullswater

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The following intervention case study has been published to benefit open water risk assessor learning and development. It summarises incidents between 2018-2022 in and around Ullswater in the Lake District. 

Summary

At least fifteen people, across eight separate incidents, got into difficulty in the water at Ullswater between 2002-2022. The incident loci are often around Glenridding Beck, and watersport hire businesses. Young men and teenagers, including those who are fit, athletic and competitive, are especially at risk. Most of those who get into difficulty are visitors to the area. 

Incidents

Incident 1: Olumide Giwa, from Greater Manchester, got into difficulty near Aira Point, Ullswater, when he fell from his paddleboard around 13:10 on Sunday, 7 August 2022. Friends alerted the emergency services. Divers later recovered the man's body. 

Incident 2: Mahmood Desai, 15 years old, and Muhammad Namaji, 12, were playing with friends at an unknown location around Ullswater on Thursday, 22 July 2021. Sometime that day, the boys tried to swim across a section of the lake. Muhammad, who could not swim, lost his footing and began to drown in deep water. Mahmood, his cousin, tried to save him, but the two became locked, putting both boys' lives in danger. A couple passing nearby heard and saw the boys in distress and attempted a rescue. Both boys were safely recovered and made a full recovery. 

Incident 3: Ayxzel, 18, and Bryxzel Galeon, 21, were on holiday with friends at the Glenridding access point to Ullswater on Thursday, 1 August 2019. Both boys celebrated their A-Level results and enjoyed the water at Glenridding.  At around 16:50, Ayxzel, who could swim, became locked in deep water with Bryxzel, a non-swimmer. Friends at the bank attempted to rescue them but were unsuccessful. Yanek Kowal was passing nearby and saw the group in distress. He attempted a rescue and recovered Ayxzel, who went on to make a full recovery. When the member of the public returned to rescue Bryxzel, he had already submerged below the waterline and was out of sight. A dive team later recovered Bryxzel's body. 

Incident 4: Alan Gough, 47, was in a canoe on Ullswater with his friend, John Robinson, on 4 January 2015. Alan's canoe capsized around 45 metres from the shore during the crossing. He managed to swim and reach the shore. The pair spent around 40 minutes changing into dry clothes when John noticed blood dripping from his nostril. The pair then got into their vehicle and set off to return home. Whilst driving home, Alan lost consciousness at the wheel and crashed into a stone wall. He died as a result of his injuries. His loss of consciousness was attributed to a small amount of water entering his lungs. 

Incident 5: A rugby player, Samuel Yarwood, 22, his brother, Ben Yarwood, and work colleague, Alex Jewers, from Bournemouth, travelled to the Ullswater to undertake the Three Lakes Challenge on 4 April 2011. On the first day of the trip, Ben had to be pulled from the water by Alex but escaped without injury. Ben subsequently decided not to go canoeing on 6 April 2011, but Samuel and Alex proceeded to make the trip across the lake. After setting off in calm conditions, high winds generated strong waves, which caused Samuel to capsize and begin to drown. Alex attempted a rescue but was unsuccessful in reaching Samuel before he submerged below the water's surface. Alex swam to shore to get help, and divers later recovered Samuel's body. 

Incident 6: Harvinder Singh, 15, Sapvir Singh, 17, and Tajinder Singh, 21, from Wolverhampton, were on a weekend trip to Ullswater with their martial arts club on Saturday, 23 September 2006. The boys hired boats and entered the water near Saint Patrick's Boat Landing on the South side of the lake. One of the boys, a non-swimmer, fell from his boat and began to drown. Two of his friends entered the water to try and save him, but neither of the boys could swim. Zak Ratcliffe, who works at the Boat Landing, entered the water to perform a rescue, but all three boys had submerged and descended out of sight. The three boys were later recovered from the water by divers.   

Incident 7: Raymond Didcock, 56, entered the lake on an inflatable at Pooley Bridge in Ullswater on 22 July 2004. He was accompanied on his family holiday by his two children. Raymond slipped from the inflatable and fell into deep water, and began to drown. His children and a local boat hire employee Damien Finnigan attempted to rescue him but were unsuccessful. Raymond's body was subsequently recovered from the lake by divers. 

Incident 8: Max Palmer, 10, drowned on 26 May 2002, when he was swept to his death by a swollen stream whilst wading in a Ullswater beck near Greenside Mines Youth Hostel. 

Recommendations

The recommendations below have been generated from the incident reports above and the images taken by Google Maps in 2022. There is the possibility that measures have been put into effect since these images were taken in 2021. The purpose of our post is to provide a case study for learning and development purposes for open water risk assessors. 

The following recommendations are made: 

1. A safe and suitable location for permitting swimming at Ullswater is designated, demarcated, and advertised to reduce swimming at often unsafe, alternative locations around the lake. 
2. Signage is placed at all fifteen locations listed in the images below, advising of any sharp gradients and to deter swimming and the consumption of alcohol around the banks of the lake. Signage should encourage those posting to social media to communicate responsible water safety advice. 
3. All commercial businesses offering the hire of water vessels and vehicles should be trained in water safety, appropriately screen hirees for water safety competence, and provide information about the dangers of cold water immersion and deep water.  
4. All businesses offering accommodation, including camping or caravan facilities, provide guests with information about the designated location for swimming at Ullswater and the dangers of cold water immersion and deep water. 
   
5. Strongly recommend the use of lifejackets when using and hiring vessels for use on the water.  

Image 1: Howtown Bay, Ullswater, where Byyxzel Galeon drowned in 2019

High risk: A low wall beside a busy walking trail and shallow, ankle-deep water provides a honeytrap for families and young adults. We are unaware of any signage in this location advising on water safety or the hazards present in the lake. 

 Image credit: Robert Mcquaide, 2016, Ullswater, Howtown Bay, Google Maps. 

Image 2: Glencoyne Bay car park, Ullswater

Medium: A secluded walkway across a main road from a busy car park leads to a shallow water access point to the lake. Some safety signage is visible at the entrance, although it is unclear on the water safety content of this signage. 

Image credit: Google, 2022, Google Maps.

Image 3: Silver Point, Ullswater

Medium: A large open expanse adjacent to one of the main walking trails around Ullswater provides access to shallow water. Norfolk Island is located at the midpoint of the lake immediately adjacent to Silver Point, providing a honeypot for fit, athletic and competitive teenagers and young men. No signage is visible warning of the dangers of swimming across the lake to Norfolk Island. 

Image credit: AccidentalLight, 2017, Google Maps.

Image 4: Goldrill Beck, Ullswater

Medium: Near to three major campsites and the most southerly collection of accommodation venues, this shallow-water access point at Goldrill Beck provides a risk to teenagers and young adults. The site is also adjacent to one of the main walkways around Ullswater. 

Image credit: Chris, 2021, Google Maps.

Image 5: Grisedale Bridge, Glenridding

High: Close to Glenridding centre, overnight accommodation, a major car park, and campsites, the shallow water at Grisedale Bridge presents a high-risk, shallow water access point to Ullswater. 

Image credit: Mark Szabo, 2018, Google Maps.

Image 6: Ullswater Steamers, Glenridding

Low: The Glenridding Ullswater Terminal presents a lower risk to children and young families owing to increased water safety signage and reasonable footfall by young families and older citizens, which may deter the consumption of alcohol, teenagers, and young men. 

Image credit: Mark Szabo, 2018, Google Maps. 

Image 7: Glenridding Manor House

Low: The Glenridding Manor House is a five-star hotel on the shore of Ullswater. A lifebuoy and water safety signage are present. Access appears to be restricted to hotel guests. 

Image credit: William Bedford, 2022, Google Maps. 

Image 8: Hawkhow

Low: The lack of an available footpath from Glenridding to Hawkhow reduces access to this shallow-water access point. No water safety signage or rescue equipment is seen in the area. 

Image credit: Danny Field, 2014, Google Maps.

Image 9: Aira Beck

Medium: Aira Beck is adjacent to a pedestrian trail and includes a small pier where boats can anchor. The lake bed at Aira Beck is steep and deep water is accessible only a few metres from the shore. Aira Point is where Olumide Giwa drowned in 2022 whilst paddleboarding. No water safety signage or rescue equipment is seen in the area. 

Image credit: Steve Payne, 2020, Google Maps. 

Image 10: Lakefield Boathouse

Low: Adjacent to the main pedestrian trail around the lake, the Lakefield Boathouse is a stretch of small beaches providing access to Ullswater. The water is initially shallow before tapering off at a steady gradient. No water safety signage or rescue equipment is seen in the area. 

Image credit: Kieran Feather, 2019, Google Maps.

Image 11: Fairfield Marina

High: The Fairfield Marina invites guests into the water by advertising various watersport activities, including sailing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. A series of jetties and water vessels provide access to deep water. Little water safety signage can be seen in the area. 

Image credit: Stephen Applegate, 2021, Google Maps. 

Image 12: Ullswater Paddleboarding

High: A paddleboard hire shop provides access to deep water via a jetty. Paddleboarding presents a greater risk of capsizing than sailing, especially in poor weather. A long beach provides easy access to the water. Accommodation is nearby, providing easy access for small children. Little water safety signage can be seen in the area. 

Image credit: Ben Schuman, 2022, Google Maps. 

Image 13: Alfresco Adventures Watersports Hire

High: Alfresco Adventures Watersports Hire on the north side of the lake near Pooley Bridge provides access to deep water via watersports activities. There are four nearby accommodation and camping facilities that provide access to Ullswater. The site is well-advertised and attracts generous footfall, particularly in summer. Little water safety signage can be seen in the area. 

Image credit: Qasim M, 2019, Google Maps. 

Image 14: Gale Bay

High: Camping facilities are adjacent to Gale Bay and provide easy access for small children to Ullswater. A gently sloping beach provides access to shallow water, which shelves sharply just off the shore. No water safety signage can be seen in the area. 

Image credit: Mark Vanstone, 2013, Google Maps. 

Image 15: Ullswater Yacht Club, Thwaitehill Bay

High: The provision of watersports activities and a pier provide easy access to deep water. The Yacht Club is adjacent to Thwaitehill Bay, a camping site, and the main pedestrian trail around the lake. Little water safety signage can be seen in the area. 

Image credit: Martin Maynard, 2013, Google Maps. 

Citation. Jacklin, D. 2023. Intervention Case Study: Ullswater. Water Incident Research Hub, 10 March.

Webpage image credit: Mark Szabo, 2018, Glenridding, Ullswater.