POLICE have issued a warning about swimming in lakes and open water following the death of an 18-year-old man at the Shavers End quarry in Stourport.

West Mercia Police, the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, RLSS UK and Hereford and Worcester Fire & Rescue Service have asked people to think carefully before they attempt to swim in lakes, quarries or any type of open water, which may carry hidden dangers.

Fire and police officers will visit local quarries and lakes where young people hang out to talk to them about the dangers they could face when swimming in open water, and are uniting with other agencies to raise awareness and prevent unnecessary deaths.

Yesterday, (Monday July 8) the body of a missing 18-year old man was found after an extensive search carried out by emergency services at Shavers End quarry.

The body was recovered at around 3.45pm yesterday by police divers from North West Police underwater search team.

No formal identification of the body has taken place, but it is believed to be the body of a missing man who entered the water on Sunday evening (July 7).

The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner.

The victim's next of kin have been informed and police have asked that the “family's privacy be respected at this time.”

Detective Inspector Jim Hopkins from West Mercia Police, said: "The tragic accident of the young 18-year-old man in Shavers End Quarry in Stourport is an all too devastating example of the dangers of open water.

"Our thoughts and sympathies go out to his family and friends who are dealing with this tragic loss. We will continue to support the family and we are dedicated to doing everything we can to protect our communities from harm and this includes letting people know about the risks involved with swimming in open water.

"As summer temperatures are set to soar, taking a cooling dip in water is an obvious temptation. Bodies of water may look appealing, or even safe in some cases, however strong currents, hazardous objects, and pollution mean they often hide much less obvious dangers.

"Even if you are a strong swimmer you are still susceptible to dangers such as cold water shock, which affects your ability to swim and can have severe effects on your body in as little as three minutes. The longer you are in the water, the greater your chance of hypothermia as your core body temperature drops to a dangerous level.

"The best way to stay safe is to avoid swimming in open water and ensure you only enter water where there is adequate supervision and rescue cover.

"We will continue to work with the Fire Service, the Police and Crime Commissioner, and RLSS UK to educate people about the risks of cold water shock and how swimming in open water can put them and others in serious danger.

"While we do not want to stop anyone from enjoying the warm weather, we would urge them to listen to our advice and do so in a safe and responsible way."

Group Commander Mick Cadman from the Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service Community Risk department said: "It is so important to remind people to stay safe near water, especially at this high-risk time of year.

"We have some beautiful rivers, canals and lakes in our two counties, but the risk of cold water shock is too great at this time of the year to consider swimming.

"Be water aware - enjoy being around the rivers, canals, and lakes, but don't end up in them on a day or a night out."

West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said: "My thoughts are with the family, following another tragic loss of life. It's important we do all we can to prevent these tragedies and it's important to follow the advice to keep yourself safe.

"I am committed to taking a strong united approach to tackling this issue, and have brought together a number of key professionals through the Home and Dry campaign to raise awareness of the dangers and continue to protect and keep the public safe."