MORE than 20 firefighters from three stations were drafted in to search for a 16-year-old who drowned at Appleton Reservoir yesterday.

Jay Darling, a firefighter at Warrington Fire Station, said: "We want to send the message that any piece of water that looks inviting probably isn't."

The warning follows the death of Temi Abimbola, a Sir Thomas Boteler pupil who died at the United Utilities-owned reservoir.

The emergency services were alerted to the incident at 1.35pm.

Four engines along with a water rescue unit, a hydraulic platform to launch a boat and a line rescue device attended the scene from Warrington, Stockton Heath and Knutsford fire stations.

Mr Darling said people do not realise how cold the water is and that even staff in their specialist suits were cold.

He urged people to not give into the temptation of swimming in unknown waters, such as the Mersey.

A police diver found the GCSE student after a two-and-a-half hour search at 4.30pm. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him on the bank and on route to Warrington Hospital but were unsuccessful.

United Utilities is urging people not to be tempted to swim in reservoirs during the current spell of hot weather.

Nigel Fletcher, United Utilities’ health and safety advisor, said: "Reservoirs seem inviting to swimmers - particularly on hot days after sunbathing - but cooling off in them can be deadly.

“In a reflex action, the body cuts the supply of blood to the arms and legs - preventing swimming - and people then sink and drown.

“Swimming in reservoirs is a highly dangerous activity. We sign our sites to alert people to the fact that swimming is not allowed.”

The message from United Utilities is clear - icy water can kill. Stay away and find properly supervised pools to swim in. Reservoirs in use have water drawn from them through pipes under the surface and there are very strong undertows created as a result.

For more information on how to stay safe at reservoirs, visit unitedutilities.com/reservoirsafety