Five teenagers have died in open water incidents across the UK during the bank holiday heatwave, prompting urgent warnings from experts and grieving families. Among the victims is 15-year-old Declan Sawyer, whose body was recovered from Swanholme Lakes near Lincoln on Sunday. His father, Carl Sawyer, described him as a 'funny and outgoing young man' and urged parents to warn children about the dangers of swimming in rivers and lakes.
Another teenager died on Bank Holiday Monday after going missing in water at a country park in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Police confirmed that a body was recovered following an overnight search. In Dublin, 15-year-old Abbie Carmody-Pepper lost her life while bathing at Burrow Beach in Sutton. Her death came hours after a teenage girl was retrieved from the water at Kingsbury Water Park in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. A 13-year-old boy, named locally as 'Reco,' drowned in a reservoir in Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Robert Hulatt, head of prevention at Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, warned that open water poses hidden dangers, including cold water shock, which can impair breathing and swimming ability. 'Even on a warm day, the temperature in open water can remain very cold, causing a physical reaction that makes it difficult to control breathing and can lead to panic,' he said. He urged people to follow safety tips and not assume that swimming pool skills are sufficient for open water.
The tragedies have renewed calls for awareness as the heatwave is expected to continue. Declan's father said, 'We would like to raise awareness about children playing near any rivers or lakes in the hot weather. Please can all parents, friends and family make their children aware of the dangers surrounding water.'
