Quarry owner issues desperate plea after 'one in a million' teen dies in water

The owner of a quarry in Appley Bridge, a village near Wigan, has made a desperate plea for people to stay away after a third person lost their life swimming in the water-filled crater. Jamie Lewin, 16, tragically died after getting into difficulties swimming at East Quarry, Dawber Delph on Saturday July 9.

He is the third teenager to lose his life in the water following Miracle Godson, who died in 2015 and Craig Croston in 1999. Despite the area being surrounded by fencing and signs telling people to stay away, it remains a popular swimming area during the hot weather.

The tragedy of the ‘one in a million’ teenager from Stockport, caused shock, upset, and anger in the community, but people were still found to be trying to access the quarry in the following days.

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Jamie’s mother, Steph Lewin, wrote a tribute to her son, saying: “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.

“He really was one in a million. I’m so happy I was his mum. He was only 16 and so full of life and so happy.”

On the Monday following the tragedy, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service were at the East Quarry speaking to young people in the area. A spokesperson for Lancashire Fire and Rescue told Lancs Live that fire crews had been speaking to youths who were by the quarry fence who had said they were not trying to access the quarry. They said fire crews spoke to the group about water safety in case they did try to access the water.

Last year, the quarry was slapped with a weekend dispersal order after people continued to