Salford Quays swimmers blasted for diving into freezing waters

Video footage of two men drying off after an after-dark swim in the freezing waters of Salford Quays has sparked a warning from city council bosses.

The footage, shot by a member of the public at about 7pm last night (Sunday December 11) when temperatures were below freezing shows two young men in swimming trunks on a pontoon close to the water sports centre. One appears to be drying his hair.

Coun Barbara Bentham, lead member for environment and community safety said the video had sent shock waves through the council. She said: “If these two young men are experienced cold water swimmers then going into the Quays in the dark by themselves on a freezing December night is utterly reckless.”

“If they are not trained to swim in cold water then they are lucky to be alive,” she said.

“We’re constantly warning people of the dangers of cold-water shock and reminding them that open water is cold even on the hottest days of the year. I cannot begin to imagine how cold the water must have been last night and I hope this was just a one-off moment of madness.

“Cold water shock can affect even the strongest swimmers which is why people should only ever swim in the Quays as part of an organised and supervised session for their safety. Given the current freezing conditions people should take even more care near any open water.”

Salford city council has stepped up CCTV camera ‘patrols’ covering the Quays and says it will report any dangerous activity picked up to the police.

The warning comes after three young boys died after going on a frozen lake near Solihull.