23/06/2026
“With the warm weather arriving, it’s tempting to cool off in the River Ure, but please take care.
What looks like shallow, calm water can hide sudden drops, cold water shock and strong currents. Every year experienced swimmers get into difficulty, often when they least expect it.
If you’re enjoying the sunshine around West Tanfield, please stay safe, keep an eye on children, and look out for one another.
After your walk, bike ride or day by the river, why not call in for a cold drink, lunch or an ice cream? 🍦☀️🍻
Stay safe and enjoy the sunshine everyone.”
Several years ago on a lovely summer day we heard happy voices turn into panicked screams from our garden by the River Ure. A small group of people had paddled through the low water. They didn't realise that just beyond this picture, the river bed suddenly dips so it felt like they were stepping off a cliff into very cold water.
They could all swim a little but getting your 25 metre certificate in a swimming pool (often years ago) is very different to swimming even a few meters in a river. Even on a hot day, cold water shock can hit. There are undercurrents you might not know about, sudden changes to the water depth or simple panic.
One person tried to pull another out, and they also got into difficulty. The others just panicked and screamed. They were really fortunate. We heard the cries, grabbed ropes, & called the emergency services. With great difficulty a man was pulled from the river. He had swallowed a lot of water, was inert and unresponsive, but after treatment he survived. If we'd gone inside just 10 minutes' earlier we wouldn't have heard the screams and there was no-one else nearby so he was really lucky.
We've recently heard of so many people getting into difficulty and drowning. The next few days are likely to be hot, and cold water will be tempting. Please be careful.
And while I'm in public safety mode: please don't buy or bring or light any disposable barbecues! They get hot really quickly and can cause wildfires like the one last year in the North York Moors National Park which raged for months and did lasting damage.