Village in shock after teen drowns

The 17-year-old boy was swimming in the Cod Beck Reservoir, near Osmotherley, North Yorkshire, on Sunday, when the tragedy happened.

Although swimming is banned at the beauty spot, the reservoir has become a popular destination for day trippers and campers.

Eyewitnesses alerted emergency services after the teenager, who has not been named, got into trouble just before 2pm.

A search began, but five hours later police divers recovered the teenager's body from the water.

Howard Higgs, chairman of Osmotherley Parish Council, said residents of the quiet North York Moors village were very upset.

"People camp at the reservoir and they take air beds, canoes and rubber boats out on to the water.

"The water is freezing and looks calm on the surface, but underneath it's running as fast as a river.

"Everybody in Osmotherley will be very distressed," he said.

A spokesman for Yorkshire Water, which owns the reservoir, described the death as a terribly sad incident that was totally unnecessary and avoidable.

He said: "While reservoirs may look extremely tempting to cool off in during hot weather, they pose a number of dangers and warning signs are placed all around the sites advising the public not to swim in them.

"Every year, just before the school summer holiday, we issue a warning urging the public not to swim in our reservoirs.

"We especially encourage people to make use of their local swimming pools and every year, through our SwimCare campaign, fund a number of local councils to help teach children to swim."

The death also prompted a warning about the dangers of swimming in deep water from North Yorkshire Police.

Sgt Andy Criddle, head of the force's underwater search unit, said: "Police divers know from bitter experience that a hot day can entice some people into danger.

"The worst part of my job is recovering the bodies of young people who thought it would be fun to swim in a river or lake."

Police are appealing for anyone who was at the reservoir to come forward.