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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Ryan Merrifield & Alahna Kindred

Thirteen killed in UK heatwave horrors as Brits warned not to cool off in open waters

At least 12 people have died in heat-related incidents since the temperature started to climb to dangerous levels.

Today was not the hottest on record despite hitting a high of 38.1C in Santon Downham - but the Met Office has warned that the worst is yet to come tomorrow.

The highest temperature ever recorded in the UK was in July 2019, when temperatures reached 38.7C in Cambridge.

The rise in temperatures has forced the UK Health Security Agency to issue a level 4 heat-health alert alongside the Met Office red warning running from Monday to Wednesday and the chief executive of the College of Paramedics has warned that the “ferocious heat” could result in people dying.

A 24-year-old died in Conwy Morfa, North Wales, after she and two other paddle boarders got into difficulties (Daily Post Wales)

Doctors have warned of a danger to life or potentially serious illness from the blistering temperatures.

Recommended precautions include avoiding physical exercise, keeping to the shade and maintaining ventilation, drinking plenty of water and using in-date sun cream.

People have been warned against using rivers and lakes to cool off due to the dangers of swimming in open water.

Sadly, at least 12 people have died in heat-related accidents since July 7.

Police at the scene near to the river Irwell in Bury where a body was found shortly after 4pm on July 18 (MEN MEDIA)

July 18

A teenage boy is feared to have drowned after getting into difficulty in the River Thames.

Metropolitan Police were called to reports at 4.43pm that a child had been seen entering the water at Tagg’s Island in Hampton.

Very sadly, efforts to locate the boy were unsuccessful and the rescue operation was brought to an end. Efforts to recover his body are continuing as his body has not been found yet.

Earlier on Monday, a body was found in the River Irwell in Bury near 4pm, Greater Manchester Police said.

No further details about the age or gender of the person have been released at this stage.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "Officers were called by colleagues from Greater Manchester Fire Rescue Service just after 4pm today to a report of a body in water. Emergency services are in attendance and enquiries are ongoing."

On the same day, Thames Valley Police said officers were called to reports of a 16-year-old boy getting into difficulty in Bray Lake, near Maidenhead, Berkshire at 11.45am.

A body was located just after 1.30pm. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Superintendent Michael Greenwood, the LPA Commander for Windsor and Maidenhead, said: “This is an absolute tragedy in which a young boy has died after getting into difficulty in the water of Bray Lake.

“The boy’s next of kin have been notified and are being offered support at this extremely difficult and traumatic time.

“My thoughts and the thoughts of all of us at Thames Valley Police are with the boy’s family and his friends, and we would ask that their privacy is respected.”

Robert Hattersley drowned in the River Tyne near Ovingham in Northumberland (North News & Pictures Ltd northnews.co.uk)
Alfie McCraw, 16, was pulled from a canal on July 11 near Wakefield (West Yorkshire Police / SWNS)

July 17

Police Scotland was called to reports of a capsized kayak on the River Spey at about 4.45pm.

They recovered the body of a 51-year-old man from the water.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were called around 4.45pm on Sunday, July 17 to a report of a capsized kayak on the River Spey near Fochabers.

“Emergency services attended and a 51-year-old man was recovered from the water and pronounced dead at the scene.

“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”

Robert Hattersley, 13, from Gateshead, passed away after getting into trouble in the River Tyne near Ovingham in Northumberland.

Jamie Lewin, 16, died after getting into difficulty while swimming on July 12 (PA)

Emergency services rushed to the scene at around 4.15pm on Sunday, ChronicleLive reports.

Police officers, firefighters and rescue workers searched for Robert and his body was found in the water shortly afterwards.

In Northern Ireland, a 53-year-old man was named locally after he died getting into difficulty near County Kerry.

Councillors led tributes after fisherman Brendan Teahan died after falling from a boat in Cromane Bay, Killorglin, the Independent.ie reported.

Emergency services were called to reports that someone had come into difficulty into the water at 9.46pm. He died a short while after being removed from the water.

Brendan was described as “one of the most sincere, genuine guys you could meet”.

A teenager died on July 16 after getting into difficulty in Salford Quays (MEN Media)

July 16

Sussex Police were called to a medical incident near the Brighton Pier shortly after 7pm.

The 37-year-old was taken to hospital but later died, SussexLive reports.

A spokesperson said: "Emergency services responded to a medical incident at Brighton beach near Grand Junction Road at about 7.10pm on July 16. A

"37-year-old man was taken to hospital but has sadly died. His next of kin has been informed.

"There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be prepared for HM Coroner."

The body of a 50-year-old man was found in Ardsley Reservoir, West Yorkshire following a 24-hour search.

Police were called to concerns about someone's safety at 5.30pm and his body was found the next day.

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: "Emergency services searching for a man in the water at Ardsley Reservoir has recovered a body.

"Police were called to a concern for safety at 5.30pm yesterday evening (16 July) to a report a man had got into difficulty in the water.

"A 50 year old man from the local area was found in the water this afternoon.

"His death is being treated as non-suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner."

Emma Louise Powell, 24, died on July 15 while paddleboarding Conwy Morfa beach, North Wales (PA)
Kalen Waugh, 16, died on July 16 (JustGiving)

Kalen Waugh, 16, was identified locally as the boy who drowned after getting into difficulty in the water in Salford Quays, Greater Manchester.

He took a dip with friends during a day out at the former dock area as temperatures soared across the UK.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed his death is not being treated as suspicious, though formal identification is yet to take place.

July 14

Emma Louise Powell passed away in Conwy Morfa, North Wales, after she and two other paddle boarders got into difficulties at the popular beauty spot.

A major search and rescue operation for the 24-year-old and the two others were mounted which involved the RNLI, the police, ambulance crews, and a coastguard helicopter, NorthWalesLive reports.

All three people were rescued from the water, but Emma tragically passed away at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, in the early hours of the morning.

July 11

The body of 16-year-old Alfie McCraw, from Wakefield, was found following a search of the water after he was reported missing at about 2.11pm.

Emergency service crews rushed to Broad Reach Loch House, of Linton Road, where a body was pulled from the canal.

At least five fire engines, two ambulances and three large police vans arrived at the scene before crews pulled a body out of the water, YorkshireLive reports.

July 9

Promising boxer Jamie Lewin, 16, died after getting into difficulty while swimming in a disused quarry at Appley Bridge, Lancashire.

He died at East Quarry near Wigan, Lancashire, making it three young people who have lost their lives there, with two previous teen deaths in 2015 and 1999.

His body was recovered by the police.

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