Five Die In Open Water During Record-breaking UK Heatwave

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Three people, including a teenager, have died after getting into difficulty swimming in open water, bringing the total number of drownings during the recent record-breaking heatwave to five.

Brody Leach’s body was recovered from the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, on Saturday morning, West Mercia Police confirmed.

The 22-year-old was last seen alive swimming in the river on Friday when he apparently got into trouble.

Meanwhile, officers searching for a missing 15-year-old boy last seen in the water at Testwood Lakes near Southampton have found a body, Hampshire Police said in a statement on Saturday.

“The boy’s family have been informed and formal identification has taken place. His family are being supported by specially-trained officers,” the force added.

Essex Police has also confirmed the death of a 69-year-old man in Clacton.

Police officers searching for a missing 15-year-old boy last seen in the water at Testwood Lakes near Southampton have found a body (Testwood Lakes/Facebook)

Officers said they were called to a medical emergency in Marine Parade East at just after 11am on Friday after reports of a man in difficulty in the sea.

The force said in a statement: “Officers, paramedics, the fire service and coastguard all attended. Sadly, despite colleagues’ best efforts, a 69-year-old man died at the scene.”

The three deaths bring the total number of water-related fatalities during the recent heatwave to five after a 50-year-old man was pronounced dead on Wednesday afternoon at Aberavon beach on the south coast of Wales.

Earlier, police said they had recovered the body of a teenage boy from a lake in Syston, Leicestershire, after he went into the water on Thursday.

During the May heatwave, at least 15 people, the majority of whom were children, drowned whilst swimming in open water.

Friday was confirmed by the Met Office as the UK’s hottest June day on record, with a provisional temperature of 37.3C recorded in Santon Downham, Suffolk, surpassing the high of 36.7C recorded in Merryfield, Somerset, on Thursday (AFP/Getty)

It prompted widespread warnings about the dangers of trying to cool off with a swim in the sea, lake or river, as the water is often much colder than expected and can cause cold water shock syndrome that can prove fatal.

Wednesday was the first of three consecutive days in which the hottest June day on record was broken.

Friday was confirmed by the Met Office as the UK’s hottest June day on record, with a provisional temperature of 37.3C recorded in Santon Downham, Suffolk, surpassing the high of 36.7C recorded in Merryfield, Somerset, on Thursday.

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