THE dangers of swimming in moving cold water have been reiterated by the emergency services following the death of an 18-year-old man last Friday at Linton falls.

According to posters on social media the man is believed to have been married just weeks ago.

Grassington Fire Station wrote about taking care at beauty spots: “The falls and river at Grassington through to Linton and Burnsall is beautiful. It can be tempting on hot days to take a dip, but please beware of the hidden dangers in moving cold water.”

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service added: “Following the tragic death of an 18-year-old man at Linton Falls in Grassington on Friday, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding people of the dangers of open water.

“We hope that our safety advice will reach people across York and North Yorkshire, and those from neighbouring areas who may be visiting the county over the summer months.

“We know that open waters, such as lakes, rivers and reservoirs can look tempting places to cool off especially on hot days but they can contain many hidden dangers. There may be vegetation or objects that you could tangled up in making it hard to get out. The temperature of the water is also likely to be much colder than you expect. This can lead to cold water shock, which can cause hyperventilation and breathing difficulties.

“If people get into difficult in open water they should aim to float on their back, as highlighted by the Royal National Life Saving Institute #FloatToLive campaign https://rnli.org/pages/ppc/beach-safety/beach-safe-float?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt9_elf3-6gIV2-vtCh2pqQP9EAAYASAAEgIEYfD_BwE.

If you see someone in difficulty in the water:

• Call 999 and ask for the fire service inland or the Coast Guard at the coast.

• See if there is any safety equipment nearby that you can throw to them.

• Don’t be tempted to enter the water yourself.