Three teens dead after water rescues at English beauty spots
Three teenagers have died in separate incidents at beauty spots across England as temperatures reached record highs on Bank Holiday Monday, according to police forces in West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and Warwickshire.
Halifax reservoir incident
West Yorkshire Police responded to Leadbeater Dam on moorland off Lumb Lane in Halifax at approximately 15:20 British Summer Time on Monday after reports that a teenage boy had entered the water and gotten into difficulty. The 13-year-old was removed from the reservoir and taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police stated that investigations are ongoing and that they do not believe there were any suspicious circumstances.
Kingsbury Water Park and Rother Valley Country Park
Emergency services were called to Kingsbury Water Park in Warwickshire shortly after 18:00 British Summer Time on Monday following concerns for the welfare of a girl in the water. Warwickshire Police recovered her body at approximately 19:20 British Summer Time and pronounced her dead at the scene. An investigation has begun, and authorities urged the public to avoid speculating about the circumstances.
In Rotherham, South Yorkshire Police recovered the body of a teenage boy from a lake in Rother Valley Country Park following a search and rescue operation. Police were called to the park at 18:50 British Summer Time after reports that a teenage boy had entered the water and had not been seen exiting. Officers from South Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, and Yorkshire Ambulance Service conducted a specialist search. The boy’s body was found in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The force said formal identification has yet to take place, but the family has been informed and is receiving support from officers.
Context
The deaths follow a similar incident on Sunday, when 15-year-old Declan Sawyer drowned at Swanholme Lakes in Lincoln. Emergency crews responded at approximately 14:30 British Summer Time after reports that the boy was in difficulty. He was later recovered from the water following a search and rescue operation. Declan’s father, Carl, said his son was “very much loved by his friends and family, and will be missed dearly by many.” The family has urged others to be aware of the dangers of open water. Temperatures across the United Kingdom hit record highs on Monday, with much of England remaining under amber and yellow heat health alerts issued by the United Kingdom Health Security Agency.