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Bawsey Pits deaths: Search diver speaks of weed-choked water | Bawsey Pits deaths: Search diver speaks of weed-choked water |
(about 20 hours later) | |
A diver who helped recover two bodies from a former quarry said weed in the water-filled pits was so thick he had to use a knife to cut himself free. | A diver who helped recover two bodies from a former quarry said weed in the water-filled pits was so thick he had to use a knife to cut himself free. |
A 41-year-old man and a boy of 16 died while swimming at Bawsey Pits, near King's Lynn, Norfolk, on Tuesday. | A 41-year-old man and a boy of 16 died while swimming at Bawsey Pits, near King's Lynn, Norfolk, on Tuesday. |
Alan Nicholls, a Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service diver, said he became entangled in weed while underwater. | Alan Nicholls, a Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service diver, said he became entangled in weed while underwater. |
The man, from King's Lynn, and the boy from Ely, Cambridgeshire, are due to be named by police. | |
Their bodies were recovered from separate pits at the site, which is open to the public. | Their bodies were recovered from separate pits at the site, which is open to the public. |
'Entanglement is everywhere' | 'Entanglement is everywhere' |
Swimming is forbidden, but warning signs are often ignored. | Swimming is forbidden, but warning signs are often ignored. |
"Bawsey Pits from the surface looks like a lovely, benign, clear bit of water to go and have a nice swim in on a summer's day," said Mr Nicholls. | "Bawsey Pits from the surface looks like a lovely, benign, clear bit of water to go and have a nice swim in on a summer's day," said Mr Nicholls. |
"You can see the sand on the bottom but as soon as you get out four or five metres (13 to 16ft), it drops off quite rapidly. | "You can see the sand on the bottom but as soon as you get out four or five metres (13 to 16ft), it drops off quite rapidly. |
"Once you are two metres down the visibility starts to go. | "Once you are two metres down the visibility starts to go. |
"As soon as you hit this weed bank you've got no visibility and you are really restricted in movement. | "As soon as you hit this weed bank you've got no visibility and you are really restricted in movement. |
"The entanglement is everywhere. As a diver, you are generally working in the prone position - on your belly - and you've got probably two metres (6ft) of weed above you." | "The entanglement is everywhere. As a diver, you are generally working in the prone position - on your belly - and you've got probably two metres (6ft) of weed above you." |
Other hazards for swimmers at the site include the pits' steep sides and underwater obstructions, including trees. | Other hazards for swimmers at the site include the pits' steep sides and underwater obstructions, including trees. |
Gary Stringer of Sibelco, which owns the pits, said: "We are obviously saddened and our sympathies and thoughts go out to the two families and their friends who were involved in all of this." | Gary Stringer of Sibelco, which owns the pits, said: "We are obviously saddened and our sympathies and thoughts go out to the two families and their friends who were involved in all of this." |
Representatives of the company are due to meet West Norfolk Council and Norfolk Police later to discuss safety at the site. | Representatives of the company are due to meet West Norfolk Council and Norfolk Police later to discuss safety at the site. |
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