Lewis Foster

A sailing club has warned of the dangers of lake swimming after groups of more than 40 teens began treating North Hykeham’s Apex Pits like “an open air swimming pool”.

Members of Hykeham Sailing Club said school kids are enjoying the heatwave and celebrating the end of their GCSEs but don’t realise the dangers they are exposing themselves to.

John Peters, Hykeham Sailing Club treasurer, said: “We have a lovely lake here at Apex Pits, it’s warm, well-maintened and blue. 

“But recently people having been using it as an open air swimming pool and whilst It’s lovely to have people love it as much as us the problem is, however attractive, it isn’t the Mediterranean.

“Cold water shock is still an issue and although it’s awful to stop people having fun, we don’t want a Stoke-On-Trent incident in our patch.

“It’s not only the cold water shock but disease, weeds and obstructions too.

“Because the lake was once an old gravel pit, the bottom is filled with machinery and wires.

“And, on the east bank where it’s shallower, it’s easy to become tangled and pulled under by weeds.

“Disease is also a major risk as the lake suffers from blue green algae and the spores are present all year round.

“There’s also the unavoidable problem of rats and the very nasty Weil’s Disease they bring with them.

“While we tend to have a word with the groups when we see them, and the landowners have placed no access signs up, the warnings are often ignored.

“Hopefully this appeal might get someone to listen.”

Despite clear blue waters dangers lurk below the water.

Lucky escape

The club’s warning was sparked after bodies were recovered in similar lakes across the country, and also by a recent incident where the club had to save a man in distress.

John Peters added: “Not long ago we had an incident on the water while our sailing team were testing a rescue boat.

“They spotted two guys swimming just off the east bank when one of the guys got into trouble.

“His friend waved us over and asked us to help. They dragged him out and got him to safety.

“Had we not been there, and it was only through a lucky coincidence that we were, they’d have been in big trouble.”

When Andy suffered a head injury in 1994, doctors told him he was lucky to live.

But with short term memory loss, constant headaches, epilepsy and coordination issues – daily life can be a struggle for Andy Nicholson.

Ever the optimist, The ‘Brain Damaged Baron’ is trying to build something positive from his experience.

On his website, Andy has built a community around his disability. There he makes videos talking about what it’s like to struggle with an invisible condition and hopes his dialogue can create an awareness of people like him.

Now he’s gone one step further – literally – as he attempts to tackle a marathon for charity and he wants you to walk with him.

Andy and his wife Sharon enjoy long walks and are taking that one step further with his marathon on Sunday.

The walk will begin in Leadenham and back from the Plough Pub in Bracebridge, Lincoln at 10 am on July 1.

He hopes that other people can get sponsored to join in and walk their own marathons, be that 26 miles or 26 steps. It doesn’t matter as long as awareness is being raised.

His ambitious mission has already touched people from across the world, with participants walking their own simultaneous marathons in America, Australia and even Ibiza.

Andy aims to raise £1,000 from the effort for brain charity Headway and is more than halfway towards his goal. You can support him on his Just Giving page.

Lincolnite of the week is part of an ongoing series telling the story of the city through the people of Lincoln. Do you know someone deserving of the spotlight? Contact the news team on [email protected]