A 19-year-old man who was rescued from a lake in Nottinghamshire on Thursday has died, while the body of a man in his 40s has been discovered in a river in the Norfolk Broads. These incidents bring the total number of fatalities from open water swimming during the UK heatwave to 15, as the country experienced record-breaking temperatures in May.
Incident at Balderton Lake
Emergency services were called to Balderton Lake in New Balderton, Nottinghamshire, at approximately 2:35 pm on Thursday following reports of a teenager struggling in the water. The 19-year-old, who had been at the lake with friends, was recovered and treated at the scene before being transported to hospital. However, on Saturday, Nottinghamshire Police confirmed that the teenager had not survived. Officers stated that his family has been informed and is receiving support, and there are no suspicious circumstances. A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Chief Inspector Clive Collings of Newark said: "This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are solely with this young man's family. We recognise this will be very upsetting for the local community and we encourage people to access support if they need it. During hot weather we know people want to keep cool but open waters are exceptionally dangerous as there is no way of telling what's beneath the surface."
Group Manager Charlotte Weatherall-Smith from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service added: "Incidents like this are a stark reminder of the dangers that open water can present. Even on warm and sunny days, water temperatures can be much colder than they appear, and entering the water can lead to cold water shock, which can be sudden, severe and potentially fatal. If you see someone in difficulty in the water, call 999 immediately and ask for the fire service. Encourage the person to float on their back to help them stay calm and conserve energy. For your own safety, please do not enter the water or attempt a rescue yourself, as this can put additional lives at risk."
Discovery in the Norfolk Broads
Meanwhile, an unnamed man in his 40s was found on Saturday afternoon in the River Yare, near the village of Surlingham in Norfolk. He had been missing since Friday, prompting a large-scale search operation involving fire, ambulance, air ambulance, coastguard personnel, and other search teams.
Other Fatalities During the Heatwave
The latest deaths occurred during the May heatwave, which saw temperatures soar to 35°C in parts of the UK. This follows the death of 15-year-old Chiedza Nyanjowa from Cheshire, who died in hospital on Saturday after getting into difficulties in the sea off the coast of Merseyside on Bank Holiday Monday. She was swimming at Formby beach and was taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital. Merseyside Police stated that the family expressed gratitude to those who helped the teenager, described as a "bubbly person" who loved cooking and wanted to become a nurse.
Other tragic deaths during the heatwave include:
- Charlie Noble, 16, who died after getting into difficulty in water in Stirlingshire.
- Baltazar L'Qui, 14, whose body was found in the River Thames.
- Junior Slater, 12, who died after getting into difficulty in the River Ribble in Lancashire.
- A teenage boy found dead in a lake near Blackwater, Hampshire.
- David Junior-Tita, 17, who died at Pick Mere Lake in Northwich, Cheshire.
- Muhammad Secka, 16, who died at Rother Valley Country Park in South Yorkshire.
- Reco Puttock, 13, found dead in Leadbeater Dam in Halifax, West Yorkshire.
- Lillianna Tomlinson, 16, found dead at Kingsbury Water Park in Warwickshire.
- Phil Crow, 68, who suffered a cardiac arrest while trying to rescue his wife and granddaughter at Tregirls Beach in Padstow, Cornwall.
- An unnamed 72-year-old woman who died off West Angle Beach in Pembrokeshire.
- Declan Sawyer, 15, who died at Swanholme Lakes.
- An unnamed boy pulled from the water in Swanscombe, Kent.
Authorities continue to urge the public to exercise caution around open water, highlighting the risks of cold water shock and hidden hazards beneath the surface.
