Seven Drownings in a Week Amid Record Heat
A 15-year-old boy and a 55-year-old woman died in separate incidents over the weekend, bringing the number of people who have drowned in open water during the UK's recent record-breaking heatwave to seven. The boy's body was recovered from Cowbury Reservoir in Stalybridge, Tameside, at 6.30pm on Saturday, after a rescue operation. In a separate incident, the woman died after entering a pool at Sandwell Valley Country Park in West Bromwich at 4.30pm on Saturday.
Police Plea for Water Safety
Greater Manchester Police Chief Insp Helen Baxter said: “Saturday's events are nothing short of devastating and 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. We remind the public to please avoid being tempted to cool off in reservoirs, rivers, canals or ponds. We all want to enjoy the warm weather; please make sure you do so in a safe way.”
Other Victims Across the UK
Other victims include Brody Leach, 22, whose body was recovered from the River Severn in Shrewsbury on Saturday morning after he was last seen swimming on Friday. Hayden Jones-Powell, 13, died after entering the water at a lake in Syston, Leicestershire, on Thursday. His parents said they wanted him to be remembered for his “big smile.” A 15-year-old boy was found dead at Testwood Lakes near Southampton, and a 69-year-old man died in Clacton after a medical emergency at the beach. A 50-year-old man was pronounced dead at Aberavon beach in Neath Port Talbot, Wales, on Wednesday after getting into difficulty while swimming.
RNLI Advice: Float to Live
Samantha Hughes, National Water Safety Partner at the RNLI, said: “It’s important to remember that the water is still cold. Entering it unexpectedly can lead to cold water shock, causing a sudden increase in breathing and heart rate, which may trigger panic. If you find yourself struggling in the water, remember to Float to Live: tilt your head back so your ears are submerged, relax and control your breathing.”
Heatwave Ends, Temperatures Drop
Temperatures across the country are forecast to dip significantly and stabilise near the average into next week, ending a heatwave that broke the UK record for June several times. The provisional peak was 37.3°C in Santon Downham, Suffolk, on Friday. The Met Office warning for extreme heat ended at 9am on Sunday. Met Office meteorologist Liam Eslick said: “We are starting to see some fresh air come in over the next couple of days. It will feel a lot more comfortable compared to what we saw at the end of last week.”
Impact of the Heatwave
The heatwave caused flight disruptions, with 484 inbound and outbound flights delayed at Gatwick and Heathrow airports on Saturday. Kent Fire and Rescue Service responded to three house fires caused by lightning strikes. Hundreds of schools and nurseries closed, and a hosepipe ban was introduced in Kent. Several hospitals declared critical incidents, with University Hospital Southampton cancelling planned operations.
Campaign for Water Safety
The Mirror has launched the Save Lives for Sam campaign to raise awareness of water dangers and call for compulsory water safety lessons in schools, a nationwide public awareness campaign, better lifesaving equipment at high-risk waterways, the introduction of Sam's Law, and a dedicated Minister for Water Safety.
