At least 15 people have died in water-related incidents during the recent heatwave across the UK, with a 13-year-old girl pulled from the River Wharfe in Burnsall, near Skipton, North Yorkshire, on Sunday evening. She was airlifted to hospital but pronounced dead, according to North Yorkshire Police.
Meanwhile, police in South Yorkshire are continuing to search for an 11-year-old boy who entered the River Don at Ferry Boat Lane in Mexborough on Saturday and has not been seen since. Emergency crews, including the National Police Air Service, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Services, responded. The boy's family has been informed and is being supported by officers.
In a statement on Monday morning, South Yorkshire Police said: “We understand people are desperate to help but, for everyone’s safety, we must ask that only those involved in our operation join the search.”
Heatwave Ends as Temperatures Drop
The record-breaking heatwave, which saw 35.1C at Kew Gardens and 32.9C at Cardiff Bute Park on Tuesday—the hottest May day on record for England and Wales—is giving way to cooler weather. Met Office meteorologist Rebecca Mitchell said the heatwave is “over,” with the first day of June feeling “more like spring or autumn.”
Thunderstorms and cooler temperatures are expected, with highs around 17-19C in the north and 18-21C in the south—about 14 degrees lower than the previous week in some places. Mitchell added: “The other part of the story is the temperatures will be much lower compared to the week just gone.”
The tragic incidents have prompted renewed warnings about water safety during hot weather. Police urge the public to avoid entering open water unsupervised and to be aware of hidden dangers such as strong currents and cold water shock.
