Heat-wave warning for daredevil swimmers

Harbourmaster Colin Hitchcock said an incident earlier this month at Southampton, in which a man lost a leg in an accident with his boat's propeller, highlighted the dangers of swimming near boats.

And he feared the tragedy could be repeated in Littlehampton because of youngsters swimming beneath pontoons where charter fishing boats are moored.

"This practice of swimming between the pontoons is an accident waiting to happen, as boat operators cannot see people in the water at close quarters,' said Mr Hitchcock.

"I appreciate that people want to enjoy themselves, and that the River Arun does look like an adventure playground, but swimming in and around moving craft, which can drag the unwary into their propellers, with the possibility of serious injury, is not a sensible option.

"Think about the consequences of your actions '“ is it really worth the risk to attempt to swim from shore to shore of the river, and then realise halfway across that the tide is too strong, or that a pleasure craft coming down the river cannot see you? Is it worth showing off to a crowd on Arun Parade, by jumping into the water when you don't know how deep it is, and could seriously injure yourself?"

Mr Hitchcock said harbour staff tried to make children aware of the dangers of swimming in the river and jumping off quay walls '“ "tombstoning".

It was far better, he added, for children to walk the 300 yards to swim from Littlehampton's award-winning beach, in safe bathing waters, monitored by trained lifeguards.