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

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service 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. He died in hospital.

Station commander Toby Kempton urged people to take note of the following advice: l Don’t jump or dive into rivers unless you know the depth. Submerged objects such as rocks may not be visible and can cause serious impact injuries.

l 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.

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

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

l Keep away from the river’s edge and closely supervise young children.

l Wear the recommended safety equipment for your water activity.

l Be warned – airbeds and similar items can be carried into deep water and may not keep you afloat.

l Consuming alcohol may impair your ability and judgement – alcohol and swimming should never be mixed.

l Get trained in life-saving and resuscitation techniques.

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

Mr Kempton said: “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.”

For more information, visit at hwfire.org.uk.