A Lancashire mum, whose son drowned in 2011, has issued a plea after a teenager died after getting into difficulty while in the water at a quarry on Saturday.
Beckie Ramsey, from Chorley, has called for the abandoned quarry at Dawber Delph, Appley Bridge, near Wigan, to be drained and filled after a 16-year-old boy drowned there on Saturday, July 9.
This is the third teenage boy to have drowned at the site, and she is calling for it to be drained, a plea being backed up by the area's MP.
READ MORE: Teenager dies after getting into difficulty while in water at quarry
She is also urging people to stay safe and think twice before going open water swimming after her own son, Dylan Ramsey, drowned at Whittle Hill Quarry in Whittle-le-Woods, 11 years ago.
Beckie said: “What happened over the weekend was tragic and my heart goes out to the young boy’s family and friend.
“I spent the day at the quarry yesterday as I just wanted to be there to comfort the family if they decided to visit.
“It is horrific and there are no words to now explain what this family is going through.”
Beckie said tragic deaths like this often trigger memories of what she and her family went through 11 years ago.
She said: “When someone drowns in open water I am taken back to when it happened to me and my family and I relive the moment – and I know exactly what that family will be going through.
“As soon as the sun comes out I just know the sad news reports are about to start.
“For me, this recent death is even more poignant because my son also drowned in a quarry; it is also just 25 minutes from my home.”
She is calling for the Appley Bridge quarry to be drained and filled.
Beckie said: “I would like to see the quarry drained as soon as possible, regardless of what anyone else thinks about that decision.
“I am sure it will take a long time to do – but these are lives that we are using as a result and that quarry has already taken three.”
Beckie has been campaigning for water safety for 11 years and recently launched charity ‘Doing it for Dylan’ which aims to raise awareness about water safety, support individual families, helping to fund counselling and therapy and to create learning material for schools.
She said: “I just wish children and adults would understand the dangers and the heartache that this water can bring.
“11 years on and I am still campaigning but people are still losing their lives.
“My son was an amazing swimmer and he has swimming lessons – but cold water shock will affect anyone and everyone.”
After the drowning, West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper has called on Lancashire County Council to approve and facilitate the urgent and immediate draining of the East Quarry at Appley Bridge.
She said: “I am saddened by the tragic news that a teenager has died in the East Quarry in Appley Bridge. My deepest sympathies are with his family and friends.
“Although the police, owners and local authorities have consistently done what they can to secure this quarry to advise and prevent people from swimming in the lake, the size of the site has proved this difficult.
“Whenever we have a period of good weather, this has led to young people ignoring advice and warnings not to swim in the quarry.
“The quarry must now be drained as a matter of urgency, and I am calling on Lancashire County Council to give the final approval to any pending applications for the developers to begin draining the quarry.”
Find out more about Beckie’s Doing it for Dylan charity and campaign on its Facebook page.
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