A 16-year-old boy drowned at Powell’s Pool in Sutton Park during a heatwave, raising concerns about the risks of open water swimming. Safety experts warn of hidden dangers despite inviting waters.

A 16-year-old boy drowned at Powell’s Pool in Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield.

Daniel Drewitt, a pupil at Colmers School, got into difficulty while swimming during hot weather.

Emergency crews searched the water for hours before recovering his body.

Watch the video: Richard Gullick reports

His death marks the second teenage drowning at that lake in just over two decades. As tributes are paid and support is offered to classmates and his family, questions are once again being asked about open water safety and the risks that come with rising temperatures

He was described by staff as confident, full of life, and deeply loved. Temperatures had climbed beyond 27 degrees. It was the kind of day that pulls people toward the water.

Powell’s Pool, with its open stretch and tree-lined banks, looked inviting. But it’s marked with signs forbidding swimming.

Shortly after 6pm, Daniel was reported missing. Emergency teams arrived quickly. Fire service boats were launched. Ambulance crews and police coordinated the search alongside volunteers.The search lasted several hours.

By around 10pm, Daniel’s body was recovered. He was pronounced dead soon after.

His school is offering counselling to pupils and staff. His friends and teachers are devastated. The grief is being felt far beyond the classroom.Powell’s Pool is large and deceptively deep - spanning 65,000 square metres, with cold undercurrents that can disorient even confident swimmers.

It dates back to the 18th century and is used by local sailing clubs, but swimming is prohibited.

This is not the first time tragedy has struck here. In 2001, 15-year-old Fraser Amiss drowned in the same lake after falling through ice. That death prompted new safety reviews and signage.

Nearly a quarter of a century later, another teenager has died - in the same water, under different conditions.

Birmingham City Council, which manages the park, has not commented publicly. And as tributes continue, so does the quiet weight of a life cut short.

Safety experts warn that lakes, especially, pose hidden dangers:

High temperatures can cause heat exhaustion or dehydration, weakening swimmers.
Murky water hides hazards like sharp objects, steep drop-offs, or strong currents.
Cold patches from underwater springs can cause muscle cramps.
No lifeguards and delayed emergency response increase the danger.
Crowds and a false sense of safety

Midlands Air Ambulance reports 18 accidental drowning deaths in the West Midlands so far in 2024.