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| Merthyr Tydfil mother backs reservoir danger campaign | Merthyr Tydfil mother backs reservoir danger campaign |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A mother whose teenage son died in a reservoir accident has backed a campaign warning of summer swimming dangers. | A mother whose teenage son died in a reservoir accident has backed a campaign warning of summer swimming dangers. |
| Water companies are warning people not to venture into reservoirs to cool off and swim during warm weather. | Water companies are warning people not to venture into reservoirs to cool off and swim during warm weather. |
| It follows the deaths of three swimmers in the last two months after getting in to difficulty in the water. | It follows the deaths of three swimmers in the last two months after getting in to difficulty in the water. |
| Reuben Morgan, 15, from Merthyr Tydfil drowned in 2006 and his mother said his death has had a massive impact. | Reuben Morgan, 15, from Merthyr Tydfil drowned in 2006 and his mother said his death has had a massive impact. |
| Swimming in the Pontsticill Reservoir was a challenge with a group of 10 friends, while they camped nearby after their GCSE exams in June 2006. | Swimming in the Pontsticill Reservoir was a challenge with a group of 10 friends, while they camped nearby after their GCSE exams in June 2006. |
| Reuben's friends made it across but after disappearing under the water three times he did not resurface. It took divers three days to find his body. | Reuben's friends made it across but after disappearing under the water three times he did not resurface. It took divers three days to find his body. |
| His mother Maxine Johnson said: "They couldn't pinpoint where he was in the reservoir, which was really traumatic. | |
| "I was a bit naive, I didn't think he'd go in the water, why I didn't think that, because he was a very adventurous boy. | "I was a bit naive, I didn't think he'd go in the water, why I didn't think that, because he was a very adventurous boy. |
| "He thought he was invincible - he was a very strong fit boy and he he had the stature of a man and worked out in a gym | "He thought he was invincible - he was a very strong fit boy and he he had the stature of a man and worked out in a gym |
| "I suppose he thought he'd be able to get across. Knowing what I know now about the dangers of reservoirs, for Reuben it was the coldness of the water - the freezing temperatures that killed him." | "I suppose he thought he'd be able to get across. Knowing what I know now about the dangers of reservoirs, for Reuben it was the coldness of the water - the freezing temperatures that killed him." |
| Reuben's friend Lauren Jennings, who now works for Welsh Water, said: "The evening before we were all in the the reservoir, the scariest thing is there were 11 of us swimming, it could have been any of us or all of us. | Reuben's friend Lauren Jennings, who now works for Welsh Water, said: "The evening before we were all in the the reservoir, the scariest thing is there were 11 of us swimming, it could have been any of us or all of us. |
| "Although it happened eight years ago, it's like it happened yesterday." | "Although it happened eight years ago, it's like it happened yesterday." |
| Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, which maintains 80 reservoirs, said repeated warnings are being ignored. | Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, which maintains 80 reservoirs, said repeated warnings are being ignored. |
| Two people died at Pontsticill and Cantref reservoirs last year and people have been reported swimming in the last few weeks at Llwyn Onn in the Brecon Beacons and Bwllfa Dare in Aberdare. | Two people died at Pontsticill and Cantref reservoirs last year and people have been reported swimming in the last few weeks at Llwyn Onn in the Brecon Beacons and Bwllfa Dare in Aberdare. |
| Chris Jones, chief executive, said: "These are dangerous places and not safe for swimming. | Chris Jones, chief executive, said: "These are dangerous places and not safe for swimming. |
| "They might look safe and placid but the water is very cold and very deep, the banks can be steep and there are currents there can suck you under. | "They might look safe and placid but the water is very cold and very deep, the banks can be steep and there are currents there can suck you under. |
| "We don't want to put people coming to reservoirs but stay out of the water." | "We don't want to put people coming to reservoirs but stay out of the water." |
| Head ranger Tony Busby patrols the reservoirs and he said there are hidden dangers with pumps and machinery which cannot be seen on the surface. | Head ranger Tony Busby patrols the reservoirs and he said there are hidden dangers with pumps and machinery which cannot be seen on the surface. |
| "They're like building sites covered in water," he said. | "They're like building sites covered in water," he said. |
| "We have to be really vigilant. A lot of people don't realise they're doing wrong or the dangers there. We try and tell then as forcefully and politely as we can of the risks." | "We have to be really vigilant. A lot of people don't realise they're doing wrong or the dangers there. We try and tell then as forcefully and politely as we can of the risks." |
| RESERVOIR PERILS: | RESERVOIR PERILS: |
| Source: Dwr Cymru Welsh Water | Source: Dwr Cymru Welsh Water |