A Swindon man who died swimming in a lake during the heatwave has been named locally.
A group of teenagers battled to save Robbie Sims, 20, when he got into difficulty in open water at the Cotswold Water Park in Ashton Keynes on Monday (18 July).
Tragically, their efforts – later supported by emergency services – were unsuccessful.
The incident, which happened at a private non-swimming lake managed for sailing – took place as temperatures in the area soared to a staggering 34 degrees Celsius.
Dozens of family and friends have paid tribute to Robbie on social media. One friend described him as being a ‘lovely person’.
Another wrote: “I will miss you, your laugh, your cry, your smile, your angry face, you trying to be moody with me but knowing you couldn’t keep the act up forever.”
In a tribute sent to Wiltshire 999s, a close friend said: “Robbie-jay was a lovely person who cared for people he loved. He would never have wanted to go so soon and has big plans for life.”
- If you knew Robbie and would like us to add your tribute, please email it to [email protected]. Please include your name and any photographs you may wish to include.
In a statement after the incident, the Cotswold Lakes Trust said: “We were devastated to hear of the tragedy which took place in one of the lakes in the Cotswold Water Park on Monday July 18.
“We offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the young man who lost his life and to those who witnessed the incident and tried to assist.
“We know it is tempting to want to swim in the Cotswold Water Park lakes.
“They may look inviting but many can be dangerous. If you want to swim, please put your safety first and find a lake that is specifically managed for open water swimming.”
Details of lakes operating open water swimming can be found on Cotswold Water Park website here: www.waterpark.org/things-to-do/watersports/swimming.
