Mother Warns Parents After Fit Son Drowned in Reservoir Cold Shock
A mother whose son drowned in a reservoir during a heatwave has issued a stark warning to parents: even strong swimmers can fall victim to cold water shock. Maxine Johnson lost her 15-year-old son Reuben Morgan in 2006 after he tried to swim across Pontsticill Reservoir in the Brecon Beacons with friends.
Reuben was a fit teenager who played rugby, went to the gym, and was a good swimmer. He had been camping nearby after finishing his GCSEs. On a hot day, he and his friends decided to swim across the reservoir. Three-quarters of the way across, Reuben disappeared. Despite a three-day search involving specialist teams and a helicopter, his body was found. The cause was cold water shock, which can incapacitate even the strongest swimmers.
Now, 20 years later, Ms Johnson is reminded of the tragedy every time hot weather arrives and news breaks of other teenage drownings. Over a recent bank holiday weekend, four teenagers died in separate water incidents across the UK. The National Fire Chiefs Council issued a water safety warning for children swimming in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
Ms Johnson, now chief executive of Age Connects Cardiff and the Vale, has campaigned for water safety since Reuben's death. She says the most important thing parents can do is teach their children the floating position for if they get into difficulty. The RNLI's Float to Live technique involves tilting the head back, moving hands and legs, and trying to relax until cold water shock passes.
“If Reuben had known it, I think he’d have been here today,” she said. She also urges parents to talk to their children about the dangers and know where they are going. The family will mark the 20th anniversary of Reuben's death on 28 June 2026 with a fundraising event in Merthyr Tydfil.
