Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have issued an urgent warning after youths were caught jumping into Scotsman's Flash in Wigan, the same lake where 15-year-old Alex Crook tragically drowned in 2024. Fire crews and police attended the scene on Wednesday (June 24) following reports of teenagers swimming and jumping into the open water.
Heatwave Prompts Water Safety Alerts
The incident comes as the UK experiences a major heatwave, with amber and red weather alerts across much of the country. Wednesday marked the hottest June day on record, with a provisional temperature of 35.7C, breaking the previous record from 1976. The surge in temperatures has led multiple police and fire services to issue urgent warnings against open water swimming. At least 19 people, including children, died in water-related incidents during May's heatwave.
Police Statement on Scotsman's Flash
GMP's Wigan branch stated: "We have received reports of youths jumping into the Scotsman's Flash in Wigan resulting in ourselves and the fire service attending to ensure everyone was safe. As temperatures across the UK are set to rise again over the next two days, it can be tempting to cool off in open water. If you’re planning to take part in any water‑based activities, please choose a supervised location such as an outdoor pool or a lifeguarded beach."
The statement continued: "As you can imagine, unsupervised swimming and activities in open waters are full of dangers and risk and you never know what is just beneath the surface which could cause injury. Parents and guardians are urged to ensure their children are not planning or currently entering open water areas, where conditions can be unpredictable and dangerous. It’s vital to educate young people about the risks—such as cold water shock, strong currents, and hidden hazards—so they understand the importance of staying safe and avoiding unnecessary danger."
Site of Previous Tragedy
Scotsman's Flash is one of eight bodies of water in the Wigan Flashes Nature Reserve, near the town centre, and is popular with locals. On September 7, 2024, Alex Crook, 15, drowned there. An inquest heard that Alex, who could not swim, entered the water with friends. Initially waist-deep, he moved into a deeper area, panicked, and went under. A member of the public pulled his body from the water after five minutes. His death was recorded as accidental drowning.
The coroner issued a prevention of future deaths report, noting that at the time, Scotsman's Flash had no safety equipment or warning signs about swimming dangers. Alex's father Neil, alongside wife Lynnette, told the Manchester Evening News: "We've got to keep his name alive now as much as we can, and that's what we'll do. The kids think they're invincible, but they don't realise the dangers. Alex never came home that day, despite having fun with his friends, and our lives have changed."
Broader Water Safety Concerns
Greater Manchester Police added: "202 people accidentally drowned in the UK in 2025. Don’t become a statistic, stay safe around water. Jumping into open water can be fatal. Cold water shock kills, and you never know what hazards lie beneath the surface." In the last five years, Greater Manchester firefighters have been called to 66 fatal water incidents, resulting in 67 deaths, many involving young people who got into difficulty after jumping into or swimming in open water.
