A heartbroken mum whose son died in a quarry has opened up about the impact it has had on her and her family following the recent death of another teenager last week.
Diane Fowler, from Norris Green, lost her 14-year-old son Sam in September 1999 at Hilldale Quarry in Parbold when he went out for the day with his friends. The 65-year-old mum has now spoken about how her family has never recovered from the loss.
She was told Sam got into difficulty and then disappeared underwater, with the teen's body later being found by the police underwater search team. Sam was a pupil at West Derby Comprehensive School with the schoolboy being gifted both academically and as a footballer, with him having trials at both Liverpool and Everton.
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Diane has now decided to speak out after the death of Southport teenager Jamie Lewin last week who got into difficulty in the water at Dawber Delph in Appley Bridge, Lancashire on Saturday, July 9, sparking a number of calls for the quarry to either be drained or filled, Lancs Live reports.
In a tribute, Jamie’s mother Steph Lewin said: “Jamie was a promising boxer who loved life and had so much to look forward to. He was so loved by everyone. He touched so many peoples’ lives in such a short time, he really did spread himself far.”
The 16-year-old from Southport was the third teenager to lose his life in the water after Miracle Godson in 2015 and Craig Croston in 2019. Despite its dangerous history and signs and fencing urging people to stay away, the Appley Bridge quarry continues to be a source of attraction during hot weather. Lancashire’s police and fire services have continually warned people to stay away, with the former occasionally setting up a mobile station outside the quarry.
Diane, now 65, recalls how Sam had gone out for the day with friends, when she received a knock at the door from two police officers. She said: “He had gone off with his backpack, and his sandwiches, then it was three o’clock in the afternoon when I got the knock at the door and there were two police officers there and they said Sam had been underwater and not come up.
“I said - he went to the fair and they said, no he went to a quarry with his friends. A friend dared him to swim across there, so they were just getting to the other side when Sam shouted for help. They tried to help him but couldn’t get to him, and he just went under.
“It was a stupid mistake, and he got in with the wrong people. It was peer pressure, and it was easy access to the site, although I’d never even heard of the place, called Hilldale Quarry in Parbold. It was a very, very hot day in September 1999 - it was an Indian summer. His friend got a bit ahead of him, and Sam floundered. We don’t know if he got a cramp or if he got cold water shock, but I’m sure it was cold water shock.
“For some reason we don’t know [why] the boys he was with decided to go to this quarry. He didn't have a clue about the quarry - he didn’t know how cold it was, or how deep it was.
"He just thought it was lovely, and it was lovely - I went to see it later - and it had lots of flowers and grass and trees and picnic spots and everything. I went to see it and there were families, so he must have thought it must be safe."
Yet tragedy struck again at the same quarry that Sam had died in February 2010 when 21-year-old Cameron McInnes fell into the water at Hilldale quarry. This was after the rope swing he was on snapped and he plunged into the freezing water.
The loss of Sam, who had five brothers and sisters, devastated the family, to the extent that his older brother, David, suffered depression and took his own life three years ago. Diane said: “We’re a big family, and Sam had not just brothers and sisters but many aunties, uncles, cousins and many, many friends who’ve all been just devastated, absolutely devastated. It just seems like yesterday - and it brings it all back, especially when you hear of new cases.
“It just wasn’t in his nature to do something like that; it was out of character completely. I know he had his part to play, but he was due to start in Year 10 at school and he was due to do his GCSEs and had picked his options; he had all his school stuff ready in his room
“This Appley Bridge quarry is not far away from it, and it's another magnet for kids. Apparently, there are kids there all the time, so they need security there. My kids, my grandchildren are all affected by Sam’s loss, the mums have never let their kids go out alone anywhere and wrap them up in cotton wool.
“They’re affected by my sadness, which they see most days. I try my best to be a happy person but my children and grandchildren catch me crying and it's so sad. My husband David had a heart attack last year; it’s with all the stress.
“Sam never was in trouble in his life; he just wasn’t the type of kid who did these things. He had so much to live for, so much to live for. People still write to me now and text me saying, it’s his anniversary or birthday and we’ve been to the grave; we’ll never forget. He was a gorgeous looking lad and really beautiful.
“Last weekend just took me right back to not long after Sam’s loss, you’re numb and you don’t feel sad as you’re in shock and you’re getting held up by everybody that helps you with the funeral and things that have to be done, and getting help with the other kids. Then the sadness hits you at some point in the future and doesn’t go away at all. I cry for Sam still - it’s 23 years in September; it’s not something that time heals when you lose a child.”
What the Environment Agency said:
An Environment Agency spokesperson said, regarding last weekend's tragedy: “We are extremely saddened to hear of the tragic death of a 16-year-old boy at East Quarry in Appley Bridge. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends at this difficult time.
“We would advise members of the public to follow the advice of the emergency services around water safety and to follow the water safety code. In January 2021, we issued a water transfer licence to the landowners of East Quarry, which allows this quarry to be drained by 70%.
“However, we are awaiting additional information from the operator around timings and their plans to minimise flood risk and pollution risk so that this work can go ahead safely and in line with current regulations to protect the environment and local community.”
What Lancashire County Council said:
A spokesperson for Lancashire County Council said: "This is a terribly tragic incident and our thoughts go out to the boy's family at this really difficult time. Through our schools we support Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service's campaign on water safety, which highlights the need to stay safe around open water, and would urge people to follow the advice especially as the weather remains warm.
"In terms of this site, while planning permission for a ramp was turned down last year, the owners of the quarry have used their permitted development rights to construct a smaller ramp. This did not need planning permission. Draining the site of water requires a licence from the Environment Agency, and we understand an application for this is currently being determined by the Agency."
What the owner of Dawber Delph said:
A spokesperson for Maybrook Investments Ltd, which owns Dawber Delph in Appley Bridge, urged people to stay away, saying: “The owners and staff at Maybrook are deeply saddened at the tragic death at East Quarry on 9th July 2022 and would like to pass their condolences to his family and friends.
“Our team has been maintaining the perimeter fencing and working with the emergency services to discourage young people from entering the site. Despite the tragedy of the weekend there are still groups of youths attempting to access the quarry. We appeal directly to them: please stay away and stay safe.
“As for the future of the quarry, the emergency access is very nearly complete and Maybrook has already prepared a Certificate of Lawfulness Application to drain, fill and re-water the quarry. Given the delays and objections rather than wait for the determination of a planning application for development of the site, which could take years, we decided in late 2021 that we would just remove the attraction and the danger it poses by reducing the depth of the water within the quarry to between 0.5 and 1m by raising the level of the Quarry floor.
“The external appearance quarry would be the same, but it would be safe. Upon issuing of the certificate Maybrook will be able to commence the drainage and works. In view of the clear and ongoing risk to life Maybrook plead with the council to issue the certificate immediately and without further delays or obstacles. We would be grateful if interested parties could provide us a letter supporting the application.”
A West Lancashire Borough Council spokesperson said the land of the Parbold site was not under its jurisdiction and was privately owned.
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