NEED TO KNOW
- Kimberley Johnson, 33, died after going swimming in a reservoir in England last month
- The mother of three’s final words have since been revealed, according to reports
- An inquest opening confirmed she had been with her partner Daniel at the reservoir when tragedy struck, per local media outlets
A mother of three’s final words have been revealed after she was found dead after going swimming in a reservoir in England, according to reports.
On Aug. 17 at around 4:50 p.m. local time, emergency services responded to “an incident at Strinesdale Reservoir, Oldham” in the north of the U.K. following “reports of a woman getting into difficulty in the water,” per a previous Greater Manchester Police news release.
“Sadly, the body of a woman was recovered. There are believed to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death,” police said at the time in the Aug. 18 release.
The victim has since been identified as Kimberley Johnson, 33, by outlets including the Manchester Evening News and the Daily Mail, with an inquest opening confirming she had been with her partner Daniel at the reservoir when tragedy struck.
Johnson, a machine operator who was born in Rochdale and lived in Oldham, had been drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis before she decided to go for a swim, the Manchester Evening News reported, citing a police coroner’s officer.
A while after entering the water she said, “I can’t do it,” the inquest opening heard on Tuesday, Sept. 2, per the Manchester Evening News, which cited Greater Manchester North coroner Michael Salt.
Police coroner’s officer, Cathy Dickson, said, “They’d drunk some alcohol and smoked cannabis. She decided to go for a swim. She swam for a while and then said something like, ‘I can’t do it.’ He [her partner Daniel] tried to reach out and grab her but could not do it.”
Following Johnson’s tragic death, her best friend, Lucille Stephenson, pleaded for others not to ignore the warning signs as “even the best swimmer could lose their life in the same way,” per the BBC.
Describing Johnson as a “very competent swimmer,” Stephenson told the outlet, “[Kim’s] family & friends would like to warn others about the dangers of open water swimming.”
“Please don’t ignore the warning signs. They are there for a reason,” Stephenson added, confirming Johnson left behind her long-term partner, Daniel, and three daughters.
Stephenson continued, “Kim was a loving caring soul who would do anything to help those in need,” sharing, “She would light up any room with her energetic personality & could always make you laugh.”
“Those who knew her instantly loved her,” she said, per the BBC.
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An inquest into Johnson’s death is set to be held at Rochdale Coroner’s Court on Dec. 16, the Manchester Evening News reported.
Rochdale Coroners’ Office did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.
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