Beckenham Park lake reopens after boy's drowning

Beckenham Place Park lake in south London has reopened to the public less than three weeks after the drowning of 15-year-old Izaiah Smith, a promising football talent, who lost his life while swimming there on April 4. Following the tragedy, the lake had been closed and authorities, including the Metropolitan Police, issued direct warnings about the dangers of open water swimming, highlighting risks such as strong currents, sudden drops, hidden hazards, and cold-water shock. PTP Coaching, which operates swimming and paddleboarding at the lake, emphasized the community's grief and asked visitors to respect staff privacy regarding the incident. While the lake is now open for pre-booked sessions with gates locked at other times, Lewisham Council declined to comment on additional safety measures. The reopening has renewed calls for greater awareness of the risks associated with swimming in unsupervised waters, particularly as warm weather approaches.