Water safety experts have warned about the dangers of outdoor swimming after at least nine people died in recent days while trying to cool off in Britain's waterways during the heatwave. Emergency services reported seven of the victims were young people, as crowds flocked to seasides and swimming spots.
Incidents included 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 in Yorkshire, Warwickshire, Hampshire, Lincolnshire and Lancashire. A man in his 60s died after a cardiac arrest while helping relatives at Tregirls Beach in Cornwall, and a 72-year-old woman died after being pulled from the water at West Angle Bay beach in Pembrokeshire.
Dr Heather Massey, an associate professor at the University of Portsmouth, urged parents to ensure children swim at supervised locations with lifeguards. She highlighted cold water shock as a major risk, noting that water remains very cold even when air temperatures soar. 'The rapid reduction in skin temperature triggers involuntary gasps, rapid breathing and a big increase in heart rate,' she said.
Massey advised entering water gradually to allow breathing to settle, and warned against jumping or diving in. The National Water Safety Forum's Float to Live campaign recommends rolling onto the back and tilting the head back until ears are in the water. For others in difficulty, the advice is to phone the coastguard or fire brigade, tell the person to float, and throw them something buoyant.
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.' Research from Bournemouth University in 2024 found accidental drowning deaths were three times higher on days above 25C, with most victims being men, often suspected of drinking alcohol.
