Latest news with #TomStaples
ITV News
01-05-2025
- ITV News
Fire chiefs call for urgent action on drownings
Fire chiefs are calling for urgent national action to prevent drownings after a 16-year-old boy died while swimming in a lake during a spell of hot weather. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has urged the Government to give fire services in England a legal duty to respond to water emergencies, such as rescues in rivers, lakes and canals. The call comes during the NFCC's Be Water Aware campaign and as emergency services report a rise in water-related incidents. The teenager died after getting into difficulty at Colwick Country Park in Nottingham on Wednesday evening. His body was recovered hours later. Chief Inspector David Mather of Nottinghamshire Police said: 'While work is now under way to understand how the boy came into difficulty, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight this case as a reminder of the devastating consequences of entering open water – regardless of whether people do so deliberately or inadvertently.' Tom Staples, from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said the incident was a 'stark reminder' of the hidden dangers in open water. NFCC water safety lead Chris Kirby said: '1,400 people have died in accidental drowning incidents across just five years. 'We need urgent action to prevent anybody else coming to harm and that requires steps being taken at a national level.' The NFCC says the lack of a legal duty in England means fire services face limits on how much they can invest in water rescue training, equipment and education. It also leads to inconsistencies across the UK, with Wales having a statutory duty for inland water rescue, and Scotland and Northern Ireland holding duties in relation to major flooding. Kirby said clearer responsibilities for fire and rescue services, backed by law and funding, would help improve emergency response and public safety campaigns. Figures from the Water Incident Database show 1,409 people died in accidental drownings between 2019 and 2023, with more than half in inland waters. The NFCC also wants the Government to appoint a lead department or minister for water safety to better coordinate prevention work. Temperatures reached 29.3C at Kew Gardens in London on Thursday – the hottest May 1 on record – with fire services warning of a surge in water incidents. The London Fire Brigade said such incidents were up 32% last month. Assistant Commissioner Patrick Goulbourne said: 'Even when the sun is shining, water temperatures can be dangerously cold.'
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Fire chiefs call for urgent action on drownings
Fire chiefs are calling for urgent national action to prevent drownings after a 16-year-old boy died while swimming in a lake during a spell of hot weather. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has urged the Government to give fire services in England a legal duty to respond to water emergencies, such as rescues in rivers, lakes and canals. The call comes during the NFCC's Be Water Aware campaign and as emergency services report a rise in water-related incidents. The teenager died after getting into difficulty at Colwick Country Park in Nottingham on Wednesday evening. His body was recovered hours later. Chief Inspector David Mather of Nottinghamshire Police said: 'While work is now under way to understand how the boy came into difficulty, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight this case as a reminder of the devastating consequences of entering open water – regardless of whether people do so deliberately or inadvertently.' Tom Staples, from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said the incident was a 'stark reminder' of the hidden dangers in open water. NFCC water safety lead Chris Kirby said: '1,400 people have died in accidental drowning incidents across just five years. 'We need urgent action to prevent anybody else coming to harm and that requires steps being taken at a national level.' The NFCC says the lack of a legal duty in England means fire services face limits on how much they can invest in water rescue training, equipment and education. It also leads to inconsistencies across the UK, with Wales having a statutory duty for inland water rescue, and Scotland and Northern Ireland holding duties in relation to major flooding. Kirby said clearer responsibilities for fire and rescue services, backed by law and funding, would help improve emergency response and public safety campaigns. Figures from the Water Incident Database show 1,409 people died in accidental drownings between 2019 and 2023, with more than half in inland waters. The NFCC also wants the Government to appoint a lead department or minister for water safety to better coordinate prevention work. Temperatures reached 29.3C at Kew Gardens in London on Thursday – the hottest May 1 on record – with fire services warning of a surge in water incidents. The London Fire Brigade said such incidents were up 32% last month. Assistant Commissioner Patrick Goulbourne said: 'Even when the sun is shining, water temperatures can be dangerously cold.' The RNLI urged swimmers to float on their backs if in trouble and to only swim at lifeguarded beaches.
Metro
01-05-2025
- Metro
Body found in search for boy, 16, who went swimming in lake
A body has been found following a search for a 16-year-old boy who went missing in a lake. Nottinghamshire Police said the teenager got into difficulty while swimming in the water at Colwick County Park yesterday. Emergency services were called to the scene at 5.20pm. A body was found just after 8pm by an underwater search team, the force said in an update this morning. The boy's family have been told by police and they are being supported by specially trained officers. His death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner. The news comes after higher-than-average temperatures across the UK this week. Chief Inspector David Mather said: 'This is a tragic discovery and our thoughts are with this boy's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. 'While work is now underway to understand how the boy came into difficulty, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight this case as a reminder of the devastating consequences of entering open water – regardless of whether people do so deliberately or inadvertently. 'As in this tragic case, open water can have hidden dangers that can prove fatal and I would urge anyone who spends any time on or near open water to use this case as a devastating reminder of that – particularly during the recent warm weather we have been experiencing.' Tom Staples, from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue, said: 'Despite the tireless efforts of all the emergency services involved, we are deeply saddened to confirm that the body of a 16-year-old boy has been recovered at Colwick Country Park. More Trending 'On behalf of the Service, and personally, I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to the boy's family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.' Councillor Sam Lux, from Nottingham City Council, added: 'This is an absolutely tragic incident and our hearts go out to the family and friends of the young person who has sadly died. 'We will be working with Notts Police and Notts Fire and Rescue Service to understand the full circumstances of what happened but we join with them in highlighting the extreme dangers that open water such as lakes, rivers, quarries or canals can present.' Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check our news page. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. MORE: First picture of skydiver who fell to her death in 'deliberate' act MORE: 'Mushroom killer's' texts to ex-husband before serving deadly lunch revealed MORE: Virginia Giuffre's heartbreaking final letter released by her family
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Crews called as dumped batteries 'exploded' in fire
Firefighters used a new misting tool as they were called to a blaze caused by discarded batteries in Nottinghamshire. Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service launched the Polaris - a pump with a large thin tube - in August and put it to the test for the first time on Wednesday. Crews from Tuxford were called to Windmill Lane in Worksop just after 10:15 GMT where two tonnes of lithium-ion batteries had been discarded and were exploding, the fire service said. The fire service's group manager for north Nottinghamshire, Tom Staples, said more of the tools and vehicles would be brought in soon "to further improve our ability to fight rural fires and access other hard to reach incident types". The tool uses a 'misting lance', which is a large thin tube, to push into the fire, which enables firefighters to tackle the fire from the middle, rather than just on top. It was introduced following a rise in outdoor and rural fires the service was attending. Mr Staples said: "I'm delighted that the Polaris and L200 vehicles at Tuxford fire station are getting used, especially for the type of incidents we have previously struggled to access with our traditional fire engines." Follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. New misting vehicle to tackle hard-to-reach fires Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service
BBC News
13-03-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Crews called as dumped lithium-ion batteries 'exploded' in fire
Firefighters used a new misting tool as they were called to a blaze caused by discarded batteries in Fire and Rescue Service launched the Polaris - a pump with a large thin tube - in August and put it to the test for the first time on Wednesday. Crews from Tuxford were called to Windmill Lane in Worksop just after 10:15 GMT where two tonnes of lithium-ion batteries had been discarded and were exploding, the fire service fire service's group manager for north Nottinghamshire, Tom Staples, said more of the tools and vehicles would be brought in soon "to further improve our ability to fight rural fires and access other hard to reach incident types". The tool uses a 'misting lance', which is a large thin tube, to push into the fire, which enables firefighters to tackle the fire from the middle, rather than just on was introduced following a rise in outdoor and rural fires the service was attending. Mr Staples said: "I'm delighted that the Polaris and L200 vehicles at Tuxford fire station are getting used, especially for the type of incidents we have previously struggled to access with our traditional fire engines."
