Grieving family warn of open water swimming risks

"Don't put your parents through this," a mum and dad said as they warned teenagers to take seriously the dangers of open water swimming after their 16-year-old son drowned.

Jack Lloyd, from Peterborough, died in April last year after he jumped into a cold lake near Crown Lakes Country Park in Farcet.

His family, alongside Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, have come together to share Jack's story in a short film to highlight the risks of swimming in open water.

Jack's father, Darren Lloyd, said: "It's tough and not easy to do something like this – especially when you lose a child. But we did it because we want to help others and save lives."

"Hopefully, teenagers and young people can understand the risks of taking chances like this," he added.

An inquest in September, led by coroner Simon Milburn, heard Jack, a student at Peterborough College, had gone to the lake with a couple of friends.

Video evidence showed he "jumped in voluntarily", but struggled after entering the water and went into shock.

He then "subsequently submerged and did not resurface", the hearing was told.

Jack's father and stepmother, Gemma Kirk, described the 16-year-old as a "loving, caring boy" and said sharing his story has been "important".

"Watching the film was upsetting. It brought back all the memories of what we have been through," Kirk said.

Lloyd added: "We are at a loss for words, but hopefully, it will send a strong message about dangers of open water.

"If you are a young person watching this - we miss Jack every day, his brothers and sisters miss him. You wouldn't want to put your mum and dad through this."

When recalling the moment they learned about Jack's death, Lloyd said: "It's ripped us a apart… We couldn't believe it.

"When we got to Crown Lakes and saw the emergency services, the reality hit.

"If Jack's name can save one life, that would mean a lot."

The film premiered as part of Drowning Prevention Week, which was organised by the Royal Life Saving Society UK, at the Odeon Cinema in Queensgate shopping centre, Peterborough, and will be shown in schools across the city.

Through Jack's story, the film highlights the dangers of open water swimming, explains cold water shock and what to do if you get into difficulty in water.

The fire service said 165 children lost their lives from drowning across the UK between April 2019 and March 2024, with teenagers aged between 13 and 17 having the highest drowning rate.

In Cambridgeshire there were nine deaths caused by drowning between April 2025 and March 2026, compared with seven the previous year.

James Ball, from Cambridgeshire and Fire and Service, said: "In the last five years that we have seen a doubling of the numbers of fatalities across the country.

"We continue to warn people not to enter open water, but we're also looking for new ways to engage young people.

"We hope this reaches far and wide - if it saves even one life, it will have been worthwhile."

Hampton Vale Primary Academy, Peterborough, which Jack previously attended, has installed a pop-up swimming pool in his memory to provide lessons for pupils.

PE lead Scott Collins said the school was "devastated" by Jack's death.

"I think the film really gets straight to the point - it shows what to do if you fall in and highlights the dangers," he said.

"At our school, pupils from Year 3 to Year 6 are swimming every day. We're also teaching them about the risks of rivers, ponds and open water - not just in swimming lessons."

Jack's family continue to campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of cold water swimming and are fundraising to open a youth club in his son's name.

"It's important to share Jack's story - if it can help save lives," his father said.

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