Relief as tragic Dudley lake drained of its water
A quarry lake where a 15-year-old boy drowned almost a year ago has been drained of most of its water – to the relief of the youngster's family as children prepare to break up for their summer holidays.
Owners of the site on the border of Gornal and Himley in Dudley – known locally as the Blue Lagoon – say their action is not as a result of the tragedy in which Augusto Zacarias met his death but because it is being prepared as a waste tip.
But the work to pump water into the nearby Holbeache Brook has been welcomed by Augusto's uncle, whose own son was with the teenager when he plummeted to his death in the Marl Hole pool near the Crooked House pub on July 25 last year.
The family and friends launched a campaign after the death, calling for the disused quarry to be closed and security at the site stepped up.
And Rafael Massampo, aged 44, whose wife, Brigitte Domingos is the sister of Augusto's mother, said: "It's good news for the future that the pool is being drained.
"We had been worried, since the weather was so hot and the school holidays start soon, that children might still be attracted to swim there.
"Now that the water has almost gone it will be safer for other children and I know Augusto's parents will be relieved when they hear the news."
Mr Massampo's son, Lopes, now aged 14, was with his cousin Augusto at the lake when the tragedy happened.
Portuguese-born Augusto, a promising footballer, his parents, Pedro, aged 45, and Paulina, 41, and younger brother Samuel, now two, used to live with the Massampo family in Woodsetton, Dudley. The Zacarias family has now moved to Sedgley.
Mr Massampo said he and his wife had tried to help their son through the trauma of the tragedy and they are now bracing themselves for Augusto's inquest, due to be held on August 2 at Smethwick Coroners Court.
John Sandford, director of sustainability for Wienerberger, owner of the former quarry, said that, when operations began there about 20 years ago, planning permission was given for waste disposal once the quarrying had been completed.
Gornal Councillor Dave Branwood welcomed the drainage, saying: "It's a positive step, especially as the schools are due to break up for the summer next week."
