A 15-year-old boy and a 55-year-old woman have died in separate open-water incidents, bringing the UK's drowning toll to seven during the recent record-breaking heatwave. The boy's body was recovered from Cowbury Reservoir in Stalybridge, Tameside, following a rescue operation at 6:30pm on Saturday. The woman died after entering a pool at Sandwell Valley Country Park, West Bromwich, at 4:30pm on Saturday.
Police Urge Caution
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
Among the other victims is Brody Leach, 22, whose body was pulled from the River Severn in Shrewsbury on Saturday morning. He was last seen swimming on Friday when he encountered difficulties. Hayden Jones-Powell, 13, died after entering Meynell Lake in Syston, Leicestershire, on Thursday. His parents asked for 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 incident in the water. 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
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 are expected to drop by 5-6°C, with highs of 25-26°C along the eastern coast and mid-to-low 20s elsewhere. The Met Office's extreme heat warning expired at 9am on Sunday. Meteorologist Liam Eslick said: "We are starting to see some fresh air come in over the next couple of days." The heatwave shattered the June temperature record from 1976 by more than 1°C, with a provisional peak of 37.3°C in Santon Downham, Suffolk, on Friday.
