THE fire service has re-issued water safety advice following the funeral of a loving family man.

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) is warning people who enter rivers or other open water such as lakes, to follow safety advice to ensure that their day does not end in disaster.

The trend of people jumping into water to cool off has risen along the river Avon in recent weeks and resulted in the tragic death of Bricklehampton man Carl Schmidt who sustained a head injury near Abbey Bridge in Evesham and died later in hospital.

Station Commander Toby Kempton from HWFRS, stressing that he wanted people to enjoy the water safely, without putting themselves or others at risk, he urged everyone to take note of the following water safety advice: • Don't jump or dive into rivers unless you know the depth. Submerged objects like rocks may not be visible and can cause serious impact injuries.

• Be aware that there may be strong currents, even where the surface of the water appears calm. Don't go near weirs, locks, pipes and sluices.

• Take notice of warning signs, safety information or flags near the water’s edge.

• Water can be very cold even in the summer causing cramp and breathing difficulties.

• Keep away from the river’s edge and closely supervise young children at all times.

• Wear the recommended safety equipment for your activity, eg life jackets/helmets.

• Be warned - airbeds, etc can be carried into deep water and may not keep you afloat.

• Consuming alcohol may impair your ability and judgment – alcohol and swimming should never be mixed.

• Get trained in life saving and resuscitation techniques.

• Teach children to swim and not to go into the water alone.

Mr Kempton explained that the Service has highly trained crews who work closely with volunteer agencies such as Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) and West Midlands Search and Rescue (WMSAR) to provide a dynamic response to a range of water-related incidents.

He said: “We respond to many water rescue incidents each year, many in conjunction with colleagues from other emergency services. With Easter and the May Bank Holiday and a spell of unusually warm weather, we’ve seen a sharp rise in water related injuries in recent weeks, and we are keen to highlight water safety awareness to children, their parents and as wide a cross-section of the local community as possible ahead of the Jubilee weekend and the summer break.”

Visit HWFRS’s website at hwfire.org.uk for additional water safety information and rospa.com to see the Water Safety Code published by Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).