As the summer holidays begin, people in Kent have been warned to stay out of quarries following a number of deaths last year.

Quarry operators across Kent are warning members of the public about the dangers of swimming in quarry lakes. Their message is simple: “Stay Safe and Stay Out.”

The campaign is supported by Lisa Skone, whose son Danny was killed riding a quad bike in a disused quarry in Ebbsfleet in 2004.

She said: “I do not want any other parent to experience what I and my family have been through, please make sure that your children are aware of the risks they and their friends are exposing themselves to when they enter a quarry.

“They think they are invincible and do not appreciate the potential consequences of their actions.”

There are more than 40 active quarries and many more former quarries across the county, with many disused sites holding large ponds which can look inviting when the weather is hot.

Video: Lisa Skone talks about her son Danny, who died in a quarry in 2004

Kent Fire and Rescue Service also stressed the dangers.

Lee Rose, head of community safety at Kent Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The emergency services are regularly called to assist in the rescue of members of the public who have got into difficulty, either in the water or as the result of a fall from height.

“Failure to appreciate the low water temperatures that exist in quarries, lakes and rivers even in summer causes difficulties for people and all too often results in the worst possible outcome.”

Video: Friends and family of teenagers killed in quarries share their stories

Last year, six men drowned in former quarry sites across the UK during a two-month period of unusually warm weather.

And during May and June this year, two young men have drowned whilst swimming in disused quarries.

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