The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) has issued urgent warnings about the dangers of swimming in open water after at least six teenage boys are believed to have drowned during the current heatwave. Several adults have also lost their lives while swimming in hot weather, bringing the total number of open water deaths to 15.
Yesterday (July 18), a 14-year-old boy went missing after swimming in the River Thames and is believed to have drowned. Earlier that day, the body of a 16-year-old boy was pulled from Bray Lake near Maidenhead, and an unidentified body was found in the River Irwell in Bury. On Sunday, three people died in water-related incidents: a 51-year-old in the River Spey in Scotland, a 13-year-old in the River Tyne near Ovingham, and a man who fell overboard in Cromane Bay, Northern Ireland.
On Saturday, a 16-year-old boy died after getting into difficulty in Salford Quays, Greater Manchester. Last week, two 16-year-old boys died—one in a West Yorkshire canal and another in an abandoned quarry in Wigan. The RLSS warns that even strong swimmers face hidden dangers in open water, including cold water shock, strong currents, and unseen hazards such as sharp objects, weeds, and submerged machinery in quarries.
Lee Heard, charity director at RLSS UK, said: 'Every year during the summer we see a sharp rise in the number of accidental drownings in the UK as many people look to cool off on hot summer days. It is vital to ensure that everyone has an understanding of water safety and makes it their responsibility to educate their family and friends on how water can be enjoyed safely to prevent such tragedies.'
The RLSS advises swimming at lifeguarded sites and using safety equipment like lifebelts. If caught in a riptide, swimmers should not fight it but swim with the current and call for help.
