Divers ignore Swindon Coate Water warning by jumping off

An eyewitness spotted three people climbing onto the listed structure in the middle of the park's reservoir and was able to snap as one of the group jumped off into the water below. 

The diving board which was restored in 2022 has not been in active use for a number of years but this isn't the first time locals have decided to take advantage of its existence and use it to plunge into the waters below.

People seen jumping off the Coate Water diving board (Image: Public Submission)

Read More: People filmed diving off of Coate Water diving board despite dangers

Last year, people were filmed seeking relief from the 33-degree heat wave by diving off the board shortly after its a refurbishment totalling more than £100,000 had finished. 

This behaviour has been previously condemned, particularly by Swindon Borough Council, which has urged people not to follow in their footsteps because of the dangers presented by diving into the water, which the authority has said is of "really poor quality".

Responding to last year's incident, a Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “The heat can sometimes make people do daft things, but I think we can safely say this goes under the category of stupid and reckless.

“These individuals may have got more than just publicity from their irresponsible antics as they ran the risk of contracting Weil’s disease from rat urine, not to mention the stomach and digestion problems that could be caused by swallowing the water, which is of really poor quality.

“Despite the sweltering heatwave, the water temperature in the lake is also very low increasing the risk of cold-incapacitation and drowning, while it is not inconceivable that the silt and weeds at the bottom of the lake could pose a hazard for anyone diving into the bottom.

The Coate Water diving board being used for emergency response training on November 10, 2023 (Image: Wiltshire Search and Rescue)

Read More: Swindon Coate Water emergency response takes place overnight

“We would remind people to admire the Coate Water diving board from the surrounding path no matter how tempting it is to put on a pair of trunks.

"Coate Water is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and visitors should not disturb the local wildlife and nesting birds as it contravenes the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.”

Work to restore the diving board, including a fresh coat of paint and the installation of replica original railings was completed on August 5, 2022.

The board was also recently used as part of a large-scale emergency service flood response training exercise, with a 'patient' on top of it being 'winched to safety' by a Coastguard helicopter.