Pond death prompts safety warning

Two young girls drowned in the pond in August 2000

Youngsters have been warned about the dangers of playing in water after a 12-year-old boy drowned at a former gravel pit in North Lincolnshire.

Emergency crews, including an RAF helicopter, were called to Ashbyville Pond in Scunthorpe, on Wednesday.

The body of Lebohang Carrington Sibanda, who lived in the Ashby area of the town, was recovered from the water.

Fire chiefs urged people to stay away from the pond, which also claimed the lives of two girls in August 2000.

Louise Wood, 12, and Hayleigh Hinton, eight, had been playing in the pond when they got into difficulties and drowned.

After Wednesday's tragedy, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Glenn Ramsden said: "The emergency services are gravely concerned about the safety of people playing in or near to water.

"Water has the ability to take a life in seconds as has been so tragically demonstrated.

Safety signs

"We appeal to people to stay away, especially in the light of the recent sunny weather."

The spot, a disused mineral workings site, is owned by North Lincolnshire Council and Lincoln Diocese and is used informally for water sports.

A spokeswoman for North Lincolnshire Council said water safety signs and life saving equipment such as buoys were installed at the site.

She added: "The council regularly issues advice on water safety to parents and children warning them of the dangers of playing near water."

The boy was understood to have been part of a group who had earlier been seen on the banks of the former gravel pit.

A police spokesman said he was known locally as Carrington Sibanda and had lived with his extended family in Scunthorpe for two or three years since arriving from Africa.

A post mortem examination was due to take place on Friday and an inquest would be opened shortly afterwards, he added.