Royal Life Saving Society warns of cold water shock after nine drown during United Kingdom heatwave
At least nine people have died in water-related incidents across the United Kingdom during the recent heatwave, prompting a safety warning from the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS). The organization cautioned that while air temperatures have risen sharply, water temperatures remain dangerously cold, increasing the risk of cold water shock and making swimming and self-rescue far more difficult. The deaths include seven young people, a man in his 60s, and a woman in her 70s, with most incidents occurring over the Bank Holiday weekend and early this week.
Fatalities across multiple locations
On Bank Holiday Monday, a 13-year-old boy named locally as Reco Puttock was pronounced dead after being pulled from Leadbeater Dam in Halifax, West Yorkshire. That same day, the body of a teenage girl was recovered from Kingsbury Water Park in Warwickshire, and the body of a teenage boy was recovered from a lake in Rother Valley Country Park in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Also on Monday, a man in his 60s died after running into the sea to help two relatives who had gotten into difficulty at Tregirls Beach near Padstow, Cornwall, according to police.
At Swanholme Lakes in Lincoln, Declan Sawyer, 15, was found dead after emergency crews responded to reports of him getting into difficulty at approximately 14:30 on Sunday. On Wednesday, Cheshire police discovered a body in Pickmere Lake during a search for a 17-year-old boy who went missing after swimming at the well-known beauty spot. On Sunday, a 72-year-old woman was pulled from the water at West Angle Bay beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales. On Wednesday, the body of a teenage boy who reportedly went missing after swimming was recovered by police at Hawley Lake near Farnborough. On Tuesday, police stated they believed a body found in the search for a 12-year-old boy who went missing while swimming in a river in Lancashire is that of the child.
Warning from drowning prevention experts
The Royal Life Saving Society issued a warning following the string of deaths, most of which involved children, stating that "warmer weather unfortunately sees an increase in accidental drownings." The organization emphasized that despite higher air temperatures, water temperatures remain very cold, and that cold water shock can impair swimming ability and make it harder to exit the water. A leading network for drowning prevention has recommended swimming only in supervised locations with lifeguards where possible, and entering the water slowly to reduce the risk of cold-water shock.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Wednesday morning, Jim Bridge from the Water Safety Partnership urged those who find themselves in difficulty in the water to "float to live." He explained: "So lie on your back with your head back, with your ears submerged, use your arms and legs to stabilise yourself and just let your breathing come back to a normal breathing pattern. And when you're feeling confident that you've gotten used to the water and your breathing's normal, you can shout for help or swim to save yourself."
Weather reprieve arrives
Wednesday brings a reprieve from the record-breaking temperatures, as cooler air moves over northern and eastern areas of England. The heatwave, which contributed to the dangerous conditions for swimmers, had pushed temperatures to extreme levels across much of the country over the preceding days. The change in weather is expected to reduce the immediate risk for those entering open water, though experts continue to stress the ongoing dangers of cold water shock.
Context
Similar tragedies have occurred during previous UK heatwaves. In July 2022, multiple drownings were reported during a period of extreme heat, with the Royal Life Saving Society recording a spike in accidental drownings as people sought relief in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. In August 2020, at least five people died in water-related incidents during a heatwave, prompting similar warnings from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and other safety organizations about the dangers of cold water shock and unsupervised swimming.