15/07/2015

River Ribble Drowning Victim Named

North Yorkshire Police have reported the death of a 42-year-old man in the River Ribble on Sunday, 12 July.

Stephen Cliff, from Settle, drowned after getting into difficulty in the river at a local beauty spot in Stainforth, Craven at around 19:45.

Police said that events like the "deeply sad" death of Stephen are a stark reminder of the potential dangers posed by rivers and lakes.

Police want to take this opportunity to remind people of these dangers and encourage them to take the following steps to stay safe:

• Always keep within your depth.

• Be sure that the river is safe. Give yourself an easy route in and out of the water, look for currents, fast moving water and make sure it's not too deep.

• Never dive in or swim alone.

• Don't swim near weirs, once caught in the undertow, you have little chance of escape.

• Beware of weeds - you can get tangled and trapped in weeds growing at the bottom of the river.

• Don't swim after drinking alcohol or taking drugs.

(MH/LM)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

15 August 2012
Man Caught Spying On Chinese Swim Team Could Be Spared Jail
A man caught in the changing rooms trying to spy on the Chinese Olympic swimming team could be spared jail. Declan Crosbie was caught peering over the top of cubicles after a woman reported seeing him entering changing rooms at a sports centre in Leeds.
16 July 2015
RNLI And ASA Launch Swim Safe Campaign
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) have launched and joint open water safety initiative, Swim Safe. Figures have revealed that one in five children have gotten into difficulty while swimming in open waters.
03 June 2010
Police Identify Human River Remains
West Yorkshire Police have confirmed that human remains found in the River Aire in Shipley are those of missing woman Shelley Armitage, Stephen Griffiths, 40, who described himself as "the crossbow cannibal", has been charged with the murder of 31-year-old Ms Armitage and two other women.
10 November 2015
Search For Car In River Kent Continues
Emergency services are continuing to search the River Kent, after a car reportedly entered the water on Monday afternoon. It is understood that a vehicle has been sighted in the river but water levels are still high.
28 August 2013
Boy's Body Recovered From Cambridgeshire River
A 12-year-old boy has drowned in the river Cam on the outskirts of Cambridge. The alarm was raised at around 18:10 on Tuesday evening when the boy didn't resurface after going into the water at Lammas Land at the Fen Causeway.