A 16-year-old boy has drowned at Swanholme Lakes in Lincolnshire, marking the second fatal incident at the same swimming area in just seven weeks. Police were called at around 5pm on July 9 after reports that the teenager had got into difficulty in the water. He was recovered by emergency services and taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8.50pm.
Second tragedy in weeks
The incident follows the death of Declan Sawyer, 15, who drowned at the same lake on May 24 during a previous heatwave. Lincolnshire Police confirmed the teenager's death and expressed condolences to his family. A spokesperson said: 'Our officers, along with Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, were deployed and recovered the boy from the water. He was treated at the scene by colleagues from East Midlands Ambulance Service and initially responded to treatment. His parents were with him at the hospital. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.'
Community urged not to speculate
The police appealed for the public not to share unverified information, as it can cause distress. A file will be passed to the coroner. Local leaders have renewed calls for people to avoid open water swimming. The City of Lincoln Council is set to approve a pilot project next week for wardens to monitor open spaces and lakes.
National context
Seven people died across the UK after getting into difficulty in water during June's record-breaking heatwave. The death toll includes a 15-year-old boy whose body was recovered from Cowbury Reservoir in Stalybridge, Tameside, and a 50-year-old man pronounced dead at Aberavon beach in Wales. In France, drowning deaths linked to the heatwave exceeded 60 within a week, and Paris recorded 109 heat-related deaths in a single 24-hour period.
