Teenager recovered from reservoir in Tameside
A 15-year-old boy has died and another teenager is missing following two separate water incidents at beauty spots in Greater Manchester over the weekend. The body of the 15-year-old was recovered from Cowbury Reservoir in Stalybridge, Tameside, after a major emergency services operation on Saturday evening. Police confirmed formal identification has taken place and the boy's family have been informed, but he has not yet been named.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Inspector Helen Baxter said the news was 'devastating'. She stated: 'My thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the young boy who sadly lost his life in such awful circumstances. We are confident that there are no suspicious circumstances and that this is such a sad reminder of the dangers of entering open water.'
Second teenager missing at Clifton Country Park
In Salford, a second teenage boy remains missing after getting into difficulty in the River Irwell at Clifton Country Park. Emergency services were called just before 5pm on Saturday, June 27. A teenage girl is understood to have been pulled from the water by friends; she is thought to be unhurt but traumatised. Another boy who entered the water managed to escape unharmed.
Specialist police divers, the Tactical Aid Unit, and a drone were deployed throughout Sunday in a major search operation. As of 4pm Sunday, Greater Manchester Police confirmed the search was ongoing. The incident follows a previous tragic death at the same location in 2020, when 14-year-old Adam Kay died.
Rising toll of open water deaths
These tragedies bring the number of open water deaths in the UK during the recent heatwave to seven. Just weeks earlier, in May, 19 people lost their lives in open water during another heatwave, many of them children. Police and fire service bosses have again stressed the dangers of swimming in open water, warning of strong currents, low water temperatures, and hidden debris.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service Area Manager Steve Jordan urged the public to have 'an honest conversation with the young people in their lives' about water safety. He said: 'The risks are real, and the consequences can be fatal. Even on warm days, the water is cold enough to cause cold water shock - which can make you inhale water and affect your movement - if you jump in, fall in or enter the water suddenly. And there could be dangerous objects and strong currents beneath the surface.'
Jordan advised that if someone gets into trouble, they should 'float to live' by tilting their head back, moving their hands and legs, and relaxing to control their breathing. He added: 'If they are with someone who gets into difficulty, they should not enter the water themselves.'
