A 39-year-old woman from Manchester has has died after reportedly immersing herself into a river as part of a cold water therapy session.
The woman – who was confirmed to be from Manchester, but has not been named – was said to have died at the scene after paramedics were called to attend a riverside in the Peak District on Monday afternoon, where she was taking part in a cold water therapy session run by a company used by a number of local famous names.
East Midlands Ambulance Service and Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said they were called to a “medial emergency” at Bankside, in the Bridgemont area of Whaley Bridge, at 15:43 on Monday.
A spokesperson for Derbyshire Constabulary confirmed: “At about 4.15pm on April 25, paramedics called us to the riverside off the B0602 between Bridgemont and Furness Vale, where they were treating a woman who had been in the water.
“The woman sadly died at the scene. A file is being prepared for the coroner. She was 39.”
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The cold water therapy session was confirmed to have been run by Kevin O’Neill of Breatheolution – whose previous clients include Coleen Rooney, actor Stephen Graham, and and former Manchester United defender Chris Smalling.
Emergency services were called to a “medial emergency” at Bankside in the Bridgemont area of Whaley Bridge / Credit: Google Maps
The Breatheloution website claims the therapy sessions are “proving to have a significant effect on clients”, with some of the benefits including helping sports injuries and anxiety.
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Mr O’Neill told The Sun of the tragic incident: “I am heartbroken. I’ve not slept and I’m finding it hard to process.
“I cannot stop thinking about her family. It’s tragic.”
Following the news of the tragic incident, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service has issued a public warning to remind people of the dangers of entering open water and cold water shock, with Group Manager Lee Williams adding that the region’s many open water sites “all have hidden dangers”.
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He pointed to the open water sites each having strong currents and hidden debris, which “could cause entrapment”.
If you see somebody in trouble in the water – don't enter the water to try and rescue them 📱 Call 999 or 112 🚁 Ask for the Coastguard when at the coast 🚒 Ask for the Fire Service if you're inland#BeWaterAware#RespectTheWaterpic.twitter.com/dLOVuH6OhB
— National Fire Chiefs Council (@NFCC_FireChiefs) April 25, 2022
He continued: “The temperature of open water is also a danger. Even the strongest of swimmers can get into difficultly as cold-water shock causes muscles to cramp, breathing can become difficult and heart rates can increase, this can cause people to panic and lead to drowning.
“If you do enter open water and get into difficulty, use the ‘Float to Live’ technique.
“Lay on your back, put your arms and legs out and float, this will allow you to calm your breathing, gain control and either call for help, or swim to safety.”
An inquest is expected to be opened into the woman’s death.
Featured Image – Google Maps
News
Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre
Daisy Jackson
Police are trying to track down the family of a man who died after being found unresponsive outside the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
The man, who has now been named as Jonathan Bernard Carroll, was seen outside the city centre theatre at around 6.30am on Tuesday 12 November.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and Mr Carroll was taken to hospital.
Tragically, the 47-year-old passed away a short time later.
A large cordon was in place on Whitworth Street and Oxford Road while police and security attended the incident.
Greater Manchester Police are now appealing to find his next of kin.
It’s believed that he resided in the Salford area of Greater Manchester.
Anyone with any information should contact the Coroner’s Office on 0161 856 1376.
Greater Manchester public urged to help get people ‘off the streets and on their feet’ before Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Locals are being urged to help get hundreds of people “off the streets and back on their feet” this festive season.
As the temperatures told colder by the day, and Christmas creeps closer and closer, Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity is bringing back ‘1000 Beds for Christmas’, and the massively-important initiative is aiming to provide 1,000 nights of accommodation to people at risk of homelessness before the big day arrives.
Forming part of the ongoing ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme, this festive fundraising mission is designed to provide food, shelter, warmth, and dedicated vital wrap-around support for those who need it most.
The charity says it wants to build on the “incredible success of 2023”, which raised more than £55,000 and provided 1,800 nights of accommodation.
Stockport-based property finance specialists, Together – which has supported the campaign for the last two years – has, once again, generously pledged to match every public donation for the first £20,000 raised.
Unfamiliar with the ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme? Since 2017, when rough sleeping peaked, the initiative has helped ensure a significantly-higher rate of reduction in the numbers of people facing a night on streets in Greater Manchester than seen nationally.
The landmark scheme has given people the chance to rebuild their lives, while also giving them access to key services and opportunities that allows them to stay off the streets for good.
Despite the scheme’s recent success, organisations across Greater Manchester are under “a huge amount of pressure” to meet the demand for their services this winter, and given the current economic outlook, household budgets will continue to be squeezed – leaving people on the sharp end of inequality and poverty.
The Manc -
29th April 2022 
