Water-safety warning after nine people die during heatwave
The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) has issued a water-safety warning following the deaths of nine people in water-related incidents during the recent hot weather. The fatalities include at least seven young people, a man in his 60s, and a woman in her 70s, with authorities urging the public to take precautions. The RLSS stated that "warmer weather unfortunately sees an increase in accidental drownings," noting that water temperatures remain very cold despite higher air temperatures, which can cause cold water shock and make swimming and exiting the water more difficult.
Incident Details Across the UK
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 got into difficulty at Tregirls Beach near Padstow, Cornwall, according to police. At Swanholme Lakes in Lincoln, 15-year-old Declan Sawyer was found dead after emergency crews were called to reports of him getting into difficulty at approximately 14:30 on Sunday.
On Sunday, a 72-year-old woman was pulled from the water at West Angle Bay beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales. On Tuesday, police said 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. On Wednesday, Cheshire police found a body in Pickmere Lake during the search for a 17-year-old boy who went missing after swimming at the well-known beauty spot. Also on Wednesday, the body of a teenage boy who reportedly went missing after going swimming was recovered by police at Hawley Lake near Farnborough.
Temperature Shift and Safety Guidance
Wednesday brings a reprieve from the record-breaking temperatures, as cooler air moves over northern and eastern areas of England. A leading network for drowning prevention has recommended swimming in supervised locations with lifeguards where possible and entering the water slowly to reduce the risk of cold-water shock. The Water Safety Partnership emphasized the importance of proper response when in distress.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Wednesday morning, Jim Bridge from Water Safety Partnership urged those who find themselves in difficulty in the water to "float to live." He advised: "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."
Context
This series of drownings is part of a pattern seen during periods of extreme heat in the United Kingdom. In July 2022, during a record-breaking heatwave, at least 10 people died in water-related incidents across England and Wales, prompting similar warnings from the Royal Life Saving Society and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. In June 2023, multiple fatalities occurred during a warm spell, including the deaths of two teenagers in separate incidents in Lancashire and Greater Manchester, leading to renewed calls for public awareness about cold water shock and the importance of swimming at lifeguarded sites.