An 18-year-old student has drowned while participating in a Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) expedition in Powys, Wales, police confirmed. Emergency services were called to the River Wye in Glasbury on Tuesday evening after reports that the teenager had entered the water and could not be located.
Search and Recovery Operation
Dyfed-Powys Police, alongside Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Mountain Rescue, and the National Police Air Service, conducted a multi-agency search beginning at 6:30 pm. The body of the male was subsequently recovered. Police have asked the public to avoid the area as inquiries continue.
Duke of Edinburgh's Award Response
A DofE spokeswoman expressed deep sadness, stating: "We are deeply saddened to confirm that a young person has drowned while on a DofE expedition in Powys, Wales. Our thoughts are with the young person’s family, together with all those who were taking part. We will do everything we can to support them at this difficult time. DofE is liaising closely with the young person’s college and relevant authorities to understand how this tragic incident happened."
The incident follows a recent spate of open-water drowning deaths in the UK, with six people dying last week after getting into difficulty while swimming.
