Day-trippers ignore warning signs and swim in toxic ‘Blue Lagoon’
Swimmers have flocked to a remote lake despite warnings the water is toxic.
The quarry lake, which is known locally as the Blue Lagoon, has been described as ‘probably the most dangerous water in the UK’.
Derbyshire Police regularly take the drastic step of dying the water black to deter visitors.
But that didn’t stop people heading to the beauty spot at Harpur Hill, near Buxton, yesterday and diving into the water – which has a dangerously high pH, similar to bleach.
The water is also full of faeces, animal carcasses, and even old cars.
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Danielle, 22, from Sheffield, said she was ‘amazed’ people were swimming in the lake despite the warning signs.
She told Derbyshire Live: ‘My family has been coming here for years so I thought it would be busy but I didn’t expect it to be this busy to be fair.
‘We’ve just come down with the kids for a picnic but I don’t think we’ll stop for long. I can’t believe how busy it is.
‘I’m amazed people are swimming. The signs make it obvious how dangerous it is.’
Tests have revealed the Blue Lagoon’s water has a highly alkaline pH level of 11.3. Bleach and ammonia have a pH level of around 12.
Paul Hawker, from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, warned people are putting lives at risk by swimming there.
He said: ‘To deter people from entering the water, local agencies work together to dye the usual blue waters black – but due to the deposits that seep from the stone, the water soon returns to its blue colour.
‘Not only is the pH value of the quarry water similar to bleach, meaning you are highly likely to experience skin irritation from swimming in the water, but there are many hidden dangers that can quickly lead to even the strongest swimmer getting caught and into difficulty – old cars and animal carcasses are just some of the things lurking in the depths of the water.
‘And no matter how hot the weather is, the quarry water will remain cold, meaning if you enter it, your body can quickly go into shock causing your heart rate to quicken, you start to gasp for breath and you can quickly become confused and disorientated.’
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