EMERGENCY crews have warned about the dangers of swimming in ponds and rivers after a young man drowned in St Helens.

Gary Kinsey, 19, drowned in a pond nearby New Bold Estate after jumping into the water from a bridge with pals. Now both police and the ambulance service have warned that although bathing in ponds and lakes may be appealing in the heat, it is extremely dangerous.

They warn that people often overestimate their swimming capabilities when in unsupervised areas like lakes, rivers and ponds.

An ambulance service spokesman said: "Entering areas such as rivers, lakes or canals may seem fun and the ideal way to cool down, but bathing in water you are not familiar with can put your own life at risk and others.

"Many lakes and rivers look very tempting as a way of cooling off during hot weather, but such places can prove highly dangerous due to the lack of knowledge of the water's depth or what it may contain."

In a statement police added: "Don't be misguided into thinking water that looks calm is safe - undercurrents can be much stronger than you think and can't be seen from the surface."

Police have also warned parents to keep garden ponds securely covered or fenced and to empty paddling pools and containers in order to reduce risks to children.