Swimmer 'horrifically injured' after diving into shallow water at Hampstead Heath pond

Pond water levels have dropped because of heatwave ++++ Diving boards and pontoons cordoned off
A cordoned off jetty at the Hampstead Heath ponds

A swimmer was “horrifically injured” after diving into Hampstead Heath ponds where water levels have dropped because of the heatwave.

Paramedics rushed to the Men’s Pond following the “freak accident” on Sunday as temperatures approached 30C.

The man underwent surgery at the Royal Free Hospital after being cut by a sharp object.

Diving boards and jetties have been cordoned off while authorities investigate.

The water level at the ponds, frequented by celebrities including Benedict Cumberbatch and Spiderman star Andrew Garfield, is said to be at its lowest for decades due to the hot weather.

Swimmers have now called for more warnings about the possible dangers.

A friend of the injured swimmer told the City of London Corporation, which runs the Heath: “My friend dived in from a spot marked for diving and got horrifically injured. I don’t know why it’s open but listen to the guards. Please let people know.”

A lifeguard told the Standard that divers were today preparing to carry out a check of the bottom of the pond for anything which could injure swimmers.

He said: “The water was 10 inches shallower than usual. The guy was quite tall and did a sort of duck dive straight down. It was his stomach that was injured. It seemed like a freak accident.”

Swimmers said the water level had been slowly decreasing since the first burst of hot weather in early June.

Veteran swimmer Jim McAdam, 70, from East Finchley, said: “When I came to swim on Monday we were told not to use the jetty or diving board and it was roped off.

“I’ve never known the level to be this low in the 20 or 30 years I’ve been coming here.”

Andrew Sawyer, 34, a teacher from Alexandra Palace, said: “I saw there was an ambulance parked near the entrance and the life guards looked really worried.

“The pond wasn’t closed though, people went in afterwards. There were so many people around, the place was rammed all day.”

A City of London Corporation spokesman said public safety was its “number one priority”.

He said: “Measures are in place to prevent people from diving off the jetty while an accident investigation is under way.

“Signs warning and advising swimmers about diving into the bathing pond are clearly visible.

“A man was taken to hospital on Sunday after he dived off the jetty and emerged with an injury to his abdomen.

“Hampstead Heath staff gave first aid to the man at the scene and he was later taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service.

“We wish him a full and speedy recovery.”

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