At least nine people have died in recent days as crowds flock to Britain's waterways to escape the heatwave, prompting urgent warnings from water safety experts. Emergency services have reported nine water-related fatalities in the past few days, seven of them young people, as temperatures soar.
Among the victims were a 17-year-old boy whose body was recovered from Pick Mere in Northwich, and a teenage girl and five boys who died in separate incidents across Yorkshire, Warwickshire, Hampshire, Lincolnshire and Lancashire. A man in his 60s died after suffering cardiac arrest while helping relatives at Tregirls Beach in Cornwall, and a 72-year-old woman was pulled from the water at West Angle Bay in Pembrokeshire.
Dr Heather Massey, an associate professor at the University of Portsmouth, warned that cold water shock remains a major risk even in hot weather. 'If you've been in the sun, your skin is hot, but some waterways are still very cold. Entering the water triggers involuntary gasps and rapid breathing, which can be fatal if you jump or dive in,' she said.
Research from Bournemouth University found that accidental drowning deaths are three times higher on days above 25°C compared with average summer temperatures. Most victims are young men, and more than half of drownings occur in inland waters. The National Water Safety Forum advises people to 'Float to Live' by rolling onto their back and tilting their head back until their ears are submerged.
Gavin Ellis, drowning prevention lead at the National Fire Chiefs Council, said: 'No family should have to experience the devastation of losing a loved one in the water.' He urged the public to visit supervised swimming locations with lifeguards, enter the water gradually, and avoid alcohol.
