Visitors are being warned to stay away from an East Midlands beauty spot have been about dangerous waters in following a report of a boy being swept away
The incident happened by the Derwent, at Pebble Beach in Alvaston, Derbyshire.
According to a post on the Alvaston Park Facebook page, a passer-by saved a boy who had been taken some 200 yards downstream, having fallen into the river while playing with friends.
Following the incident, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service issued a fresh appeal for families to stay away from the area.
Station manager Mark Whitelaw said fire crews had attended five incidents at Pebble Beach in the last four years, including one in which a 25-year-old man drowned.
He said: "The water may appear to be calm, but it’s deep and hidden currents can soon sweep the strongest swimmer downstream and into danger.
"The weir is also a danger as sadly demonstrated by the tragic fatality in July 2018.
"Thankfully on this occasion it has been reported that the young boy was helped to safety by a passer-by. I dread to think what would have happened if there hadn’t been anyone around to help the boy."
The Earl of Harrington’s Angling Club posted on Facebook about the incident on August 13 and described it as a "close shave".
They wrote: "A group of young boys playing with a football in the river were at far end of Pebble Beach - one boy was swept away down river.
"The river doesn’t look to be moving much, but it’s flowing at about 2.5 miles an hour. He was unable to swim and had to be rescued by a passer-by who got him out of the river."
The incidents Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service have attended at Pebble Beach since 2016:
February 2016 – Man fell into the water but managed to get out before fire crews arrived
May 2018 – Children playing in the water, one boy got into difficulty and was helped to the opposite river bank by a police officer - firefighters assisted the police officer and boy to safety
July 2018 - A 25-year-old man drowned after falling from the weir at Pebble Beach - he became trapped under the water by the strong currents
October 2018 – Man fell into the water but was out by the time crews arrived - paramedics helped him once he got out
June 2019 – 11-year-old girl slipped crossing the weir - she was rescued by a passer-by before crews arrived
