A body has been recovered in the search for an 11-year-old boy who disappeared while swimming in a river during last week's record-breaking heatwave. Mackenzie Swift was last seen entering the River Don near Mexborough, South Yorkshire, on Saturday evening. After he failed to emerge from the water, a 48-hour search operation was launched involving firefighters, mountain rescue teams, and an underwater search unit.
Police Confirm Recovery
On Tuesday, South Yorkshire Police announced that they had recovered a body. Chief Superintendent Pete Thorp, district commander for Doncaster, expressed his deepest sympathies to Mackenzie's family and friends. 'Losing a child is every parent's worst nightmare, and I know the impact this news will have on the wider community and particularly Mackenzie's school,' he said. He also thanked the local community for their cooperation and offers of assistance during the search.
Wave of Open-Water Deaths
The tragic discovery comes amid a surge in open-water fatalities as Britain experienced its hottest May on record. Since the start of the heatwave last week, at least 17 people have died in open-water incidents across the country. Among them was a 13-year-old girl who was pulled from the River Wharfe in Burnsall, North Yorkshire, on Sunday evening. She was airlifted to hospital but pronounced dead.
Other victims include 44-year-old Greg Howes, who died in the Norfolk Broads on Saturday. His family urged the public to take care on the water. A 16-year-old girl, Lillianna Tomlinson, died after entering the River Tame near Kingsbury Water Park in Warwickshire. Her family described her as a 'bright, kind, and caring young girl'.
Additional Incidents
On Sunday, a 13-year-old girl died in the River Wharfe in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. On Saturday, a woman died after entering the sea to rescue her dog in Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire. A man in his 60s remains in critical condition after the same incident. Last Friday, 16-year-old Charlie Noble was named as a victim in Stirlingshire. The body of 14-year-old Baltazar L'Qui was found in the River Thames, and another teenage boy was discovered in a pond in Swanscombe, Kent.
Last Tuesday, two boys died: 17-year-old David Junior-Tita at Pickmere Lake in Cheshire, and 12-year-old Junior Slater in the River Ribble in Lancashire. A 15-year-old girl, Chiedza Nyanjowa, died in hospital after swimming at Formby beach in Merseyside. On Monday, 13-year-old Reco Puttock was pronounced dead after being found in Leadbeater Dam in Halifax. Heroic grandfather Phil Crow, 68, died after suffering a cardiac arrest while trying to rescue his wife and granddaughter at Tregirls Beach in Cornwall.
Heatwave Conditions
Temperatures reached 34.8°C at Kew Gardens on Monday, breaking the record for the hottest May day. However, the heatwave has now subsided, with forecasters predicting cooler temperatures, rain, and possible thunderstorms. Met Office meteorologist Rebecca Mitchell confirmed the heatwave is 'over', with a 'big change on the way'.
