Water park owner will drain lake unless trespassers stop swimming

The owner of a water park has said he will drain the lake to prevent someone from potentially drowning unless young trespassers stop swimming in it at night.

Let's Go Hydro's Pete Boyle said the thought of someone getting into difficulty in the water kept him awake at night.

"I simply cannot have that risk in my life. If we cannot keep them out, there's only one thing left to do and that's to empty the lake," he said.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said it was aware of children entering the outdoor activity facility.

The water park in Carryduff recently spent £30,000 on fencing, which is alongside other security measures at the facility including CCTV.

Boyle said if someone was to drown in the lake it would "be my fault, even if we've taken every measure".

"It's very worrying that the children feel like they can climb over the fence at night and get into the lake," he told BBC News NI.

Boyle said the trespassers, who have been entering the lake over the past three weekends, are coming at about 20:00 and staying until close to midnight.

"The temperature in the lake was down to about eight degrees the last time we measured it," he said.

"If you go in that lake, you've got about eight minutes before you will die."

Despite the security measures in place Boyle said there was not much more the company could do except urge people to stay out of the lake.

"The water is safe when there's a lifeguard and you have a life jacket on," he said.

"We spend a lot of time and money to make sure everything is completely regulated and safe.

"But climbing over a fence to [get to] a lake in the middle of the night in the winter when the water is freezing cold - with no wet suit where there's no way of rescue - it's so dangerous.

"Our wish is to promote water sports but I will not be lying awake at night wondering is there another kid in my lake?

"Waiting for the phone call to be told that someone's dead in the lake - I simply will not have that on my conscience."

Alliance Party MLA Kate Nicholl said children's safety is of "paramount importance" and urged young people to be "sensible" and parents to be vigilant.

"What can seem like a fun situation can turn dangerous so quickly," added the Belfast South assembly member.

Nicholl said that at the time of night the children were entering the water, no immediate help is available if something goes wrong.

She is encouraging parents to speak to their children about water safety and the risks of swimming at night.

"It actually doesn't matter what age you are," she said.

"No one should be trespassing full stop but no one should be swimming there at that time of night."

Sinn Féin councillor Daniel Basset added: "I will continue to engage with local bodies, the owner and the local community to help stop these incidents from happening within our area."

Social Democratic and Labour Party councillor John Gallon also appealed to young people and families about the dangers of going into the lake at night and it is extremely dangerous and "we don't want anyone to drown".