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'Most dangerous' water in the world with a '100% fatality rate' can be found in England

Home> Entertainment> YouTube

Updated 15:42 6 Oct 2024 GMT+1Published 14:20 6 Oct 2024 GMT+1

'Most dangerous' water in the world with a '100% fatality rate' can be found in England

The UK river is said to have a '100 percent fatality rate'

Anish Vij

Anish Vij

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I bet you never thought one of the most dangerous rivers in the world is located in the north of England.

While taking a dip in a small river doesn't exactly sound life-threatening, you best think again.

This water stream has taken the lives of everyone who has fallen into it, with a 100 percent fatality rate, according to urban legend.

Nope, there no crocodiles or piranhas or anything like that.

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In fact, it's perfectly safe to jump across the most dangerous part, just as long as you don't fall in.

YouTuber jack a snacks has been down to the river near the Lake District to film what lurked below, with terrifying results.

It’s called The Strid and it’s on a stretch of the River Wharfe up near Bolton Abbey in North Yorkshire.

The name comes from an old English word that means ‘turmoil’ and that’s exactly what you’d be in if you went into it.

Basically, the Wharfe is funnelled through an incredibly tight gap at The Strid, meaning that the water beneath is deep, full of hidden crevices, and strong currents.

There’s a sign by it that explains how dangerous the river is at that point, but that hasn’t stopped people from ending up in the water over the years.

The UK river is said to have a '100 percent fatality rate' (YouTube/Tom Scott)
The UK river is said to have a '100 percent fatality rate' (YouTube/Tom Scott)

Stories about The Strid’s lethal nature started back in medieval times when the ‘Boy of Egremont’ and his dog were allegedly pulled in.

It’s so dangerous because the Wharfe is generally a shallow and wide river, but at this point it becomes very narrow and deep, essentially flipping the whole river on its side.

It’s a very powerful bit of water that goes through underwater caves and overhanging rocks.

Since that first medieval death, there have been numerous others, including 19th century picnickers, an artist in 1934, and a newlywed couple in 1998.

Then, in 2010, an eight-year-old called Aaron Page fell in, his body getting dragged downstream.

This infamous part of the river has even been immortalised in poem by William Wordsworth over the years, as well as American author Gertrude Atherton.

The Strid is located on a stretch of the River Wharfe (YouTube/Tom Scott)
The Strid is located on a stretch of the River Wharfe (YouTube/Tom Scott)

Explaining the power of the river, YouTuber Tom Scott – who made a video about The Strid – said: “There are certainly rivers that have taken more lives, and there are rapids and waterfalls that few boats could sail, but generally you can see them coming.

"This is just an innocent-looking stream in the middle of some woods, you could jump over it, people occasionally do, but if you miss that jump, it'll kill you.

"Those banks are actually overhangs - there isn't any riverbed just below the surface, it's a deep, boiling mass of fast and deadly currents.

"There are claims that falling in has a 100 percent fatality rate; there's no way to confirm that, of course, because 'local person doesn't die in river' doesn't make the news, it has claimed a lot of lives.

"There are even tales from the 12th century of a young boy, set to be the future king of Scotland, who died trying to jump across those waters.

"And anyone or anything that falls in might not come out in any recognisable form, it could just get pulverised against the rocks and the water, over and over and over again.”

He added: "Is it survivable? Yeah, with a lot of equipment and a lot of luck.

"And you've find occasional testimony from foolhardy people who've swum on the calmer pools at the bottom on drier days, but that's also where a young child drowned back in 2010.

"That's why it's so dangerous, it looks safe, it looks tempting, and it will kill you."

Featured Image Credit: Twitter/Bolton Abbey Estate and youtube/jackasnacks

Topics: UK News, YouTube, Weird

Anish Vij
Anish Vij

Anish is a Journalist at LADbible Group and is a GG2 Young Journalist of the Year 2025. He has a Master's degree in Multimedia Journalism and a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management. Apart from that, his life revolves around the ‘Four F’s’ - family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

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@Anish_Vij

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