A WOMAN who intervened to save a boy who “would have probably drowned” is calling for “stricter safety measures” at Marine Lake in Weston-super-Mare.

Skye Leonard, from Bristol, spotted a boy struggling in the water at Marine Lake last Sunday afternoon (August 11).

She was in the water with a friend when she realised a “little boy started going under”.

With the help of her friend, Skye managed to drag the boy out of the water and took him back to his mum.

She said: “Me and my friend where at the Marine in the water and saw a little boy and he started going under.

“When I grabbed him, he was coughing out water. We dragged him out and took him to his mum. It all happened quite quickly.

“Where we were in the Marine it was deep, and I don’t think he could swim. He couldn’t find his feet. I don’t think he would have made it if my friend and I wouldn’t have been there.”

She also added the Marine has “deceiving waters that shift from shallow to deep”.

Skye added: “My friend went in and grabbed him then I grabbed him and took him back in. Without us he would have probably drowned.

“He was quite shaky and coughed for quite a while.

“Having lifeguard on site might help. There is a dip in the water, but you’d think it’s quite shallow, and there’s no warning about that.”

Skye launched a petition following the incident to make sure “stricter safety measures” can be put in place.

Skye added: “I feel there needs to be someone overlooking the water especially on busy days.

“The chilling reality is that water can be fatal extremely fast.

“There is an urgent need for stricter safety measures to be put in place.

“This petition aims to ensure the safety of the public by advocating for lifeguards or patrol services to be implemented at Weston-super-Mare's Marine Lake during the summer season.”

A council's water safety sign at Marine LakeA council's water safety sign at Marine Lake (Image: North Somerset Council)

A spokesperson for North Somerset Council said: “We encourage anyone entering the waters at Weston-super-Mare to be aware of the risks from open water and for adults to keep a close eye on the children in their care.

“There are water safety information signs along the seafront, including at Marine Lake and our seafront rangers patrol throughout the day and ensure all the lifebelts are well-maintained in case they’re needed.

“This summer we have been working closely with our colleagues from the emergency services to promote water safety to ensure all our visitors understand the risks and what to do if they get into difficulty.

“We encourage everyone to watch the videos we’ve put together before entering the water.”

More guidelines can be found on the North Somerset Council website and social media pages.

More information can be found on the following links - https://n-somerset.gov.uk/my-services/libraries-leisure-open-spaces/beaches-coast/marine-lake-safety#:~:text=Marine%20Lake%20provides%20a%20free,to%20periodically%20filter%20the%20Lake and https://www.facebook.com/share/iwMFj7rGDFMeN1eW/ 

The council also published some videos on its YouTube channel to share guidelines, and they can be found here -https://youtu.be/ljZs_G_cbvU and https://youtu.be/4kyxL6D5uis