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With a range of freshwater bodies across the Borough, including lakes, ponds, rivers and stretches of canal, Sefton Council is reminding people about the dangers of going onto ice.

Tragic news

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said: “Today’s tragic news from Solihull is a sad reminder of the dangers of going onto ice on lakes, ponds, rivers and canals and our thoughts are with the individuals and families involved in yesterday’s incident.

“I want to remind people that no matter how firmly frozen surfaces appear to be, the ice can, in reality, be uneven and very thin in places.

“With water temperatures so low, cold water shock can set in immediately. Very quickly this leads to rapid breathing, your blood pressure shooting up and a loss of muscle control and strength, leaving you unable to swim or rescue yourself.”

Never go onto the ice

Cllr Moncur said that the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) advises that people should never go onto the ice to rescue somebody and that they should call 999 and ask for the Fire and Rescue Service.

He also said people should keep dogs on leads close to frozen water bodies to ensure they stay safe and to prevent the temptation to rescue them should they fall through.

Advice

The RLSS UK advises that if you do fall through ice, you should:

• Keep calm and shout for ‘help’.
• Spread your arms across the surface of the ice in front of you.
• If the ice is strong enough, kick your legs to slide onto the ice.
• Lie flat and pull yourself towards the bank.
• If the ice breaks, work your way to the bank-breaking the ice in front of you anyway
• If you cannot climb out, wait for help and keep as still as possible. Press your arms by your side and keep your legs together. Keep your head clear of the water.
• Once you are safe, go to hospital immediately for a check-up.

Assistance

If you see someone fall through the ice, the RLSS UK says you should:

• Shout for assistance and phone the emergency services – call 999 or 112.
• Do not walk or climb onto the ice to attempt a rescue.
• Shout to the casualty to ‘keep still’ and offer reassurance to keep them calm.
• Try and reach them from the bank using a rope, pole, tree branch, clothing tied together or anything else which can extend your reach.
• When reaching from the bank, lie down to avoid being pulled onto the ice.
• If you cannot reach them, slide something which floats, such as a plastic bottle or football, across the ice for them to hold onto to stay afloat whilst help is on the way.
• If the casualty is too far away, do not attempt to rescue them. Wait for the emergency services while calming and reassuring the casualty.

Vital

Cllr Moncur added:
“This is all vital advice from the Royal Life Saving Society UK which can help to save lives but the very best way to stay safe is not going onto the ice at all.”

Due to planned 24-hour strikes by Network Rail staff who are members of the RMT union, Merseyrail will be running a limited train service on Tuesday 13th, Wednesday 14th, Friday 16th and Saturday 17th December.

While Merseyrail staff are not part of this industrial action, it will involve Network Rail staff who operate the signalling systems and provide maintenance support.

As a result, a 45-minute service will run between approximately 07:30 and 18:30 on strike days.

A summary of services that will operate is as follows:

• Southport line: Trains will run every 45 minutes, calling at all stations.
• Ormskirk line: Trains will run every 45 minutes, calling at all stations.
• Kirkby line: Trains will run every 45 minutes, calling at all stations.
• Chester and Ellesmere Port lines: No trains will operate between Chester and Rock Ferry or Ellesmere Port and Rock Ferry. Trains will run every 45 minutes between Rock Ferry and Liverpool Central, calling at all stations.
• New Brighton line: Trains will run every 45 minutes, calling at all stations.
• West Kirby line: Trains will run every 45 minutes, calling at all stations. 
• Hunts Cross line: No trains will operate between Liverpool Central and Hunts Cross.

You can find links to strike day timetables here.

Please note: There will be no rail replacement buses on strike days and passengers are advised to make alternative travel arrangements if you cannot make your planned journey using the train service that will operate.

Thursday 15 December – Early Morning Services

On Thursday 15 December trains will be reintroduced from 06:50. First train times can be viewed on the Merseyrail website.

To help customers get into the city centre, early morning rail replacement buses will run as follows:

Southport line:

• Southport 05:45 calling at Formby 06:15, Waterloo 06:35 and Moorfields 06:55.
• Formby 06:00 calling at Waterloo 06:20 and Moorfields 06:40.

Ormskirk line:

• Ormskirk 06:00 calling at Maghull 06:20 and Moorfields 06:50.

Kirkby line:

• Kirkby 06:00 calling at Fazakerley 06:10 and Moorfields 06:40.

Chester & Ellesmere Port line:

• Chester 06:00 calling at Bache 06:10 and Moorfields 06:50.
• Hooton 06:00 calling at Rock Ferry 06:30 and Moorfields 07:00.

West Kirby line:

• West Kirby 06:00 calling at Birkenhead North 06:20 and Moorfields 06:50.

New Brighton line:

• New Brighton 05:45 calling at Birkenhead North 06:05 and Moorfields 06:35.
• Moorfields 06:35 calling at Hamilton Square 06:50 and Birkenhead North 07:00.

Hunts Cross line:

• Hunts Cross 06:00 calling at Liverpool South Parkway 06:10 and Moorfields 06:35.
• Moorfields 06:35 calling at Liverpool South Parkway 07:05.
• Liverpool South Parkway 07:10 calling at Moorfields 07:35.

If you have assisted travel bookings or require assisted travel between strike days please contact us here, or use the National Passenger Assist App.