Body found in search for boy, 12, missing in river as heatwave continues
A body has been recovered in the search for a 12-year-old boy who went missing while swimming in a river in Lancashire, as record-breaking heat swept across parts of the UK. The boy was with friends when he got into difficulty in the River Ribble in Ribchester at approximately 14:00 BST on Tuesday. Police and fire crews, including underwater units, conducted a major search of the area until a body was recovered from the water at around 19:50 BST. Formal identification has not yet taken place, but Lancashire Police stated: "We believe it to be the body of the missing boy."
Search and recovery details
The boy, reported missing earlier in the day, was swimming with friends in the River Ribble when he encountered trouble. Emergency services launched a large-scale search operation involving police and fire crews with underwater units. The body was recovered from the water at about 19:50 BST on Tuesday. Lancashire Police confirmed the find but noted that formal identification is pending. A resident told BBC North West Tonight that part of the river was a "hotspot" for children, particularly those from outside the area. Ann-Marie Ruddock, who has lived in Ribchester since 1991, said: "Locals are well aware of the dangers of the river and they tend to keep away from it. It's a nightmare scenario."
Heatwave conditions and health warnings
Wednesday will bring a reprieve from the record-breaking heat that has impacted parts of the UK, as cooler air moves over northern and eastern areas of England. On Tuesday, some areas of London saw 35C heat, breaking a record set on Monday for the hottest May day. Kew Gardens in south-west London recorded a provisional temperature of 35.1C, surpassing Monday's 34.8C record-high at the same location. Wales also broke May records for a consecutive day, with provisional temperatures reaching 32.3C at Cardiff's Bute Park, exceeding Monday's 32.2C at Hawarden Airport in Flintshire. Temperatures are likely to remain within the heatwave threshold in parts of Wales, the West Country, and south-west England. The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued amber and yellow heat-health alerts for many areas of the UK on Tuesday, lasting until 17:00 BST on Thursday. According to the UKHSA, these alert types mean "water-related incidents may increase, including risks from cold‑water shock and drowning."
Recent water-related deaths
There have been multiple water-related deaths in the past few days. On Bank Holiday Monday, three teenagers died in open water in West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, and Warwickshire. A 15-year-old boy drowned in a lake near Lincoln on Sunday. In Halifax, West Yorkshire, a 13-year-old boy, named locally as Reco Puttock, was pronounced dead after being pulled from Leadbeater Dam. In Warwickshire, the body of a teenage girl was recovered from Kingsbury Water Park. In Rotherham, South Yorkshire, police recovered the body of a teenage boy from a lake in Rother Valley Country Park. At Tregirls Beach near Padstow, Cornwall, a man in his 60s died on Monday after running into the sea to help two relatives who got into difficulty, police said. The spate of water-related deaths follows the suspected drowning of 15-year-old Declan Sawyer at Swanholme Lakes in Lincoln on Sunday. Emergency services are also searching for a teenage boy reported missing in Pickmere Lake, between Knutsford and Northwich in Cheshire.
Safety recommendations and warnings
Newly released figures from the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) show that more accidental drowning deaths occurred inland than on the coast for the seventh consecutive year in 2025. The NWSF recommended swimming in supervised locations with lifeguards where possible and entering the water slowly to reduce the risk of cold-water shock. If in trouble, the NWSF recommends people "try to float on their backs until feeling calm and either wait for rescue or swim to safely if they can." The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) has also issued a warning following the deaths, stating "warmer weather unfortunately sees an increase in accidental drownings." The RLSS warned that water temperature remains cold despite the warm air, increasing the risk of cold-water shock.
Context
The recent incidents follow multiple water-related fatalities across the UK during the May bank holiday period. In previous years, similar heatwaves have led to spikes in accidental drownings, particularly in inland waters such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. The National Water Safety Forum has consistently highlighted that inland waters pose greater risks than coastal areas due to unpredictable currents, cold water temperatures, and lack of supervision.