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Seven Die in UK Open Water During Record June Heatwave

Police and water-safety groups warn cold-water shock raises the danger of swims in rivers and reservoirs.

Overview

  • The death toll from the late-June heatwave reached seven after Greater Manchester Police said a 15-year-old's body was recovered from Cowbury Reservoir following a Saturday evening search.
  • Earlier recoveries and confirmations include a body found at Testwood Lakes, Brody Leach pulled from the River Severn in Shrewsbury, a 69-year-old in Clacton, a 50-year-old at Aberavon beach and a teen at Meynell Lake.
  • Specialist teams continued searches at Clifton Country Park in Salford for a boy reported in difficulty in the River Irwell and emergency services have described some incidents as ongoing.
  • RNLI, police and fire services stressed that cold-water shock can incapacitate swimmers, urged people to choose lifeguarded sites, use the 'float to live' method if in trouble and called for better prevention and equipment at high-risk inland waters.
  • The drownings came as the UK recorded a provisional 37.3C June high driven by a heat-dome and follow a May wave that also saw many open-water deaths, prompting calls for water-safety education and national prevention measures.