HIDDEN DANGER

Craigavon Balancing Lakes have taken on the appearance of ice rinks for the last two weeks, but watersports staff have warned people this is not an invitation to step onto the ice.

However, many have wandered onto the frozen deathtraps, oblivious to the danger, prompting a police patrol of the lakes.

And Lurgan Park Lake has claimed a young victim. The fire service were unable to save a young pup who strayed out too far and fell through the ice.

The frozen lakes at Craigavon have proven a trouble spot in recent weeks.

A couple of weeks ago when the lakes first froze over vandals threw life saving equipment onto the ice. Children were also chased off the deadly ice rinks by a council worker.

Last Thursday vandals returned and attempted to break the ice using stones and in one case a chair. The police were called by council staff. Again, children as young as nine or 10 were witnessed playing on the ice.

With the watersports centre closed there was no one there if anyone had fallen through into the icy waters, which are up to nine metres deep in the middle. Even now, the centre is down to a skeleton staff for the winter period as many activities have ceased.

On Monday council staff were called upon on more than one occasion to deal with people who had strayed onto the ice at Craigavon Lakes oblivious to the dangers. Police were again called and went on patrol around the lakes to warn amateur skaters of the deadly risk they are taking.

Lurgan Park Rangers are also on high alert after several instances where people have ventured onto the frozen lake there.

Kelley Rushton, Head Instructor/Development Officer at Craigavon Watersports Centre, said: “We haven’t had temperatures far minus enough for ice to be any real thickness. There’s only a surface layer of ice.

“If people step on it, it will crack and they will go through.”

She pointed out that the thickness of the ice varies throughout the lake and just because it may seem thicker in one area people should not be tempted to step on it as their next step could be onto much thinner ice.

Kelley said: “We can’t have 24/7 rescue cover. The fact the lake is frozen makes it difficult to mount a rescue operation. A boat can’t be launched and long-range reaching equipment is only available from the fire service.”

She stated: “It goes without saying all unsupervised activities are prohibited.”

Kelley advised people on how to deal with someone in danger on the ice: “People should not attempt to go in and put themselves at risk. They should summon assistance straight away with a phone call to police or another local authority.

“The only rescue that should be attempted is by lying down on solid ground and spreading yourself out before reaching out or throwing out something to grab hold of. But you should never stand on the ice.”