Residents rally to rescue fish hit by heatwave in Alver Creek beauty spot in Gosport

Hundreds of animals – ranging from tiny fry to fully grown freshwater fish, as well as crabs and eels – were discovered dead and washed up on the shoreline this morning.

Social media posts attracted residents armed with buckets and nets, determined to save the wildlife at the popular beauty spot, also known as Stoke Lake. They carried the fish to the other side of the weir.

A team from Southern Water were in attendance after a resident called them out of concern that the water had been poisoned – but tests revealed the mass die-off was caused by a lack of oxygen in the water.

A technician from Southern Water said: ‘We have been working with the Environment Agency to get permission to place an oxyjet in the water to help bring oxygen into it.

‘The water isn’t our responsibility – but we want to help and will if we can.’

Residents expressed their frustration at the slow pace of the authorities to react to the issue, with one saying it was ‘absolutely ridiculous’.

Old Road resident Daniel Trotman said: ‘My boy swims in here every day of the week. I fish here regularly. It’s just really upsetting seeing all the dead wildlife.’

One family had spent more than four hours working to move dying animals to fresh water in buckets, saying it was ‘completely worth it’ to preserve the wildlife.

Ferrol Road resident Gemma Dale, working alongside her husband and three children, said: ‘We use here to swim and paddle board a lot – it means a lot to us.

‘We love this spot and it’s such a shame to see what’s happening.’

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Her 10-year-old son, Kaii, agreed and added: ‘I couldn’t let the fish die because they are so beautiful.

‘It makes me really sad – but I’m happy so many people are helping.’

Gosport Borough Councillor Alan Scard, who represents Anglesey ward, said it was ‘bureaucracy gone daft’ that Southern Water was waiting for so long to receive permission to help from the Envirnoment Agency.

He said: ‘The last I heard was that Southern Water have been fantastic – they have the equipment to oxygenate the water.

‘At one point we were seeing if the fire brigade down could use their hoses to pump oxygenated water into the creek.

‘The residents have done great work.’

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