A pub landlord in Chinnor said locals are 'waiting for the next tragedy' as he issues a warning against swimming in dangerous disused quarry lakes in the Oxfordshire village.
Chinnor quarry or Old Kiln Lakes is a former chalk pit quarry now filled with water, on the Oxfordshire border with the Chilterns, known locally as the 'blue lagoon'.
The landlord of The Crown in Chinnor, Craig Williams, said he's become concerned by the number of people he's seen heading to the lake to swim in during the May heatwave.
It comes as police confirmed this afternoon that a 14-year-old boy died around 5.45pm on Wednesday after getting into difficulty in the water at Donnington Bridge.
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The water at the quarry, though a bright blue colour, is unsafe to swim in due to high alkaline levels from the chalk extraction, submerged machinery in the water and steep, 40ft dropped sides into the lake.
In a statement issued to the public, The Crown, Chinnor's landlord said: "We are seeing hoards of people walking by and cars arriving full of visitors treating this area as a tourist attraction. It is not one.
"This is a dangerous private site and people need to understand the risks before turning up - this is not a beauty spot or a place to cool off.
"Please stop travelling here expecting a 'blue lagoon' experience.
"Respect the area, respect private land and most importantly think about your own safety before making the journey."
Mr Williams added: "It does concern us, all the locals in Chinnor are concerned about it.
"It drives people who aren't from around here into the village, which can cause some problems, and we're just waiting for the next tragedy.
"People get into the private lakes that aren't secure or just break down the fencing and are trespassing, but the authorities don't seem to do much about it.
"You would think there would be more of a police presence, knowing what's happened here in the past."
A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: "We understand concerns about activity at this location and are continuing to work with partners to address the issues reported. Officers carry out patrols in the area where appropriate, alongside responding to incidents as they arise.
“However, it is important to note that the site is privately owned, and the responsibility for securing the land and preventing unauthorised access rests with the landowner.
“We will continue to support partners and take action where necessary, but a joint approach is essential to effectively reduce trespassing and associated risks.”
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A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey, housebuilder and landowner of the quarry site, said: "Old Kiln Lakes in Chinnor is private land and should not be accessed under any circumstances.
"Entering the site is trespassing, and swimming in the water or climbing within the quarry is not safe.
"The area is actively monitored and we would ask people not to share content online that encourages others to unlawfully enter the site and put themselves at risk."
The village was rocked by a tragic incident last summer, when 18-year-old Mohammed Zuwaid, who'd travelled up from London to swim in the 'blue lagoon', drowned in the lake after jumping in on August 25.
He'd broken into the private lake with a group of friends through a gap in the fence, i the same way that many groups of young people have been doing in recent days.
It comes as warnings have been issued across the county to stay out of dangerous bodies of water and swim safely only where it's permitted during the hot weather.
Linear Fisheries, a popular fishing complex in Witney with more than 16 lakes on its site, said: "Please remember to stay safe near the water, wherever you are, as far too many people have drowned during the recent hot weather.
"Swimming is not allowed at any of Linear Fishers waters."
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Record-breaking temperatures in May have seen thousands of people taking to the water to cool off, which has led to 11 deaths by drowning across the country during the heatwave so far.
The most recent reported fatality before the Oxford case was confirmed was that of a teenage boy, who died swimming in a lake in Swanscombe, Kent on Wednesday, May 27.
He joins eight children aged between 12 and 17, as well as a man in his 60s and a 72-year-old woman who have all died in water-related incidents in the UK in recent days.
