Kirsty Gallacher shared a troubling picture after a family walk (Picture: Instagram/Kirsty Gallacher)
Kirsty Gallacher left fans ‘gobsmacked’ after sharing pictures of her children walking across a frozen lake.
The former Sky Sports host, 48, shared a series of snaps on her Instagram page of a family walk she took with her children and boyfriend Darren Clayton.
Among the chilly pictures that also show the family’s dogs enjoying the scenic stroll, one shot caused concern among Kirsty’s 401,000 followers.
One photo shows two children on a frozen lake, with one crawling towards a red ball and another walking on the ice.
Clayton, as well as one of the pups, can be seen watching the children, with some slamming the situation as showing a ‘lack of intelligence’ due to the risks.
The Royal Life Saving Society states that frozen ponds and lakes might appear more solid than they actually are, and the ice can easily crack under the weight of a human.
Kirsty enjoyed a walk with her son Jude, whom she shares with ex-husband Paul Sampson (Picture: Instagram/Kirsty Gallacher)
The pair were joined by their dogs and Kirsty’s boyfriend Darren Clayton (Picture: Instagram/Kirsty Gallacher)
She shared a picture of their children walking across a frozen body of water (Picture: Instagram/Kirsty Gallacher)
On top of this, cold water shock if the ice does break can lead to sudden loss of consciousness and heightens the risk of hypothermia.
Kirsty wrote in the caption: ‘Nothing better……Walks, kids (minus Oscar sadly) dogs & nature ❤️.’
Fans were quick to leave comments warning the TV presenter of the dangers of walking on frozen bodies of water.
Walker.deryck wrote: ‘Is that not rather dangerous crawling on frozen water! Come on Kirsty tell them not to do it.’
Kirsty replied that the water was ‘very shallow’ and for him not to worry.
Charlotterealceg added: ‘That’s very dangerous going on ice on water. If they went in the shock of the cold and logistics means they wouldn’t get out and you wouldn’t be able to help either.’
Kirsty has been slammed for the ‘dangerous’ behaviour (Picture: Instagram/Kirsty Gallacher)
She assured her Instagram followers that the water was ‘very shallow’ (Picture: Dave Benett/Getty Images for BGC Group)
Footieelvis wrote: ‘Lovely @gallacherkirsty but please tell me that the frozen water was only a very shallow bit of water and not a pond. It is so so dangerous walking on ice. Sorry to be nanny stater.’
Jackchayte added: ‘Every year sad people die and drown on thin ice ponds trying to get things for dogs – absolutely gobsmacked at the lack of intelligence from v intelligent bods.’
However, others defended Kirsty and said it was ‘obviously a big puddle’.
User _markbeeton pointed out: ‘Not one to be a killjoy but where is the common sense here? Shallow or not, not the best idea or example to set.’
Crazyn98 agreed, writing: ‘Understand what you are saying that this is shallow and therefore not dangerous, but I but i have to say this, posting it on social media is pretty irresponsible.’
Some defended the TV presenter in the comments (Picture: Instagram/Kirsty Gallacher)
Others pointed out that whether the water is shallow or not, the post could inspire others (Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage)
They continued: ‘It may put an idea in someone’s head that it is okay to do it and where they choose to go and stand on ice may not be shallow.
‘We had a terrible tragedy locally with the Babs mill boys in December 2022 where 4 young boys lost their lives by going on the ice of a frozen lake.’
Kirsty shares sons Oscar, 18, and Jude, 14, with ex-husband Paul Sampson, with whom she split in 2015.
She began dating Darren in 2023, saying being single parents helped them fall in love.
‘We’re very happy. We both had similar stories — we are single parents and love playing golf,’ she told The Sun.
‘He looks after me and tells me to have time off as I can be a workaholic. Gabby and Kenny [Logan], obviously they love him.’
Metro.co.uk has contacted representatives for Kirsty Gallacher for comment
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