A 15-year-old girl has become the 15th person to die in water-related incidents since the beginning of the heatwave – sparking new warnings over the danger of open swimming.
More deaths have been reported this weekend after several days of warm, dry weather – though conditions are expected to cool significantly going into next week. It comes after police yesterday said a 15-year-old girl had died in hospital after getting into difficulties in the sea off the coast of Merseyside on Bank Holiday Monday.
Chiedza Nyanjowa, from Cheshire, was taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital after swimming at Formby beach, Merseyside Police said. In a statement, the force said the family would like to express their gratitude to people who had helped the teenager, who described Chiedza as a “bubbly person” who loved cooking and wanted to be a nurse so she could “give back”.
View 6 ImagesChiedza Nyanjowa, a 15-year-old from Cheshire, died after getting into difficulty on Formby Beach(Image: Merseyside Police)
Emergency services raced to Balderton Lake in Nottinghamshire at 2.35pm on Thursday following reports of a man entering the water. A 19-year-old man, who had been at the lake with friends, was recovered from the water and treated at the scene before being taken to hospital. Police confirmed he had died yesterday.
View 6 ImagesMembers of the public are being warned to stick to supervised swimming spots(Image: Maureen McLean/Shutterstock)
The hot weather has drawn huge crowds to open-water swimming spots, resulting in a number of fatal incidents in South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Cornwall, Hampshire, Warwickshire, Cheshire, Pembrokeshire, Lincolnshire and Lancashire over recent days. These included a 72-year-old woman who died after being pulled from the water at West Angle Bay beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales, on Sunday, and 13-year-old Reco Puttock, who died after getting into difficulty at Leadbeater Dam, near Halifax, West Yorkshire, on Monday.
View 6 ImagesReco Puttock, 13, died after swimming in Leadbeater Dam in Halifax
Since the beginning of the heatwave on May 22, a total of 15 people have died in water-related incidents across Britain, including:
- Declan Sawyer, a 15-year-old boy, at Swanholme Lakes, Lincoln.
- Reco Puttock, a 13-year-old boy, at Leadbeater Dam, Halifax, West Yorkshire.
- Junior Slater, a 12-year-old boy, in the River Ribble, Ribchester, Lancashire.
- Muhammed Secka, a 16-year-old boy, at Rother Valley Country Park, South Yorkshire.
- David Tita Jr, a 17-year-old boy, at Pickmere Lake, Cheshire.
- Baltazar L’Qui, a 14-year-old boy, in the River Thames (Donnington Bridge).
- Charlie Noble, a 16-year-old boy, at Bracklinn Falls, Stirling, Scotland.
- Chiedza Nyanjowa, a 15-year-old girl, at Formby Beach, Merseyside.
View 6 ImagesJunior Slater lost his life in the River Ribble(Image: Lancashire Police)
Other victims have not yet been identified. These are:
- A 19-year-old man at Balderton Lake, Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire.
- A man in his 40s in the River Yare, Norfolk Broads.
- A man in his 60s at Tregirls Beach, Padstow, Cornwall.
- A 72-year-old woman at West Angle Bay beach, Pembrokeshire, Wales.
- A teenage boy at Hawley Lake, Hampshire.
- A teenage boy in a pond in Swanscombe, Kent.
- A teenage girl at Kingsbury Water Park, Warwickshire.
Amid the string of deaths, the RNLI has warned members of the public to stick to swimming in supervised locations – and has issued advice on what to do if you find yourself in trouble.
Nick Ayers, RNLI Water Safety Lead, said: “We send our sincere condolences to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives in the recent water-related incidents. During hot weather, it’s common for people to head to open water sites to cool off and enjoy water-related activities.
“The best way to keep yourself and others safe is to visit supervised locations, know what the risks are and what to do in a water emergency. Cold water shock is a major risk. It is a physiological reaction that happens when a sudden change in skin temperature occurs, for example from hot air to cold water. It can cause uncontrollable gasping and an increase to blood pressure and heart rate, which can sadly lead to panic and drowning very quickly.
View 6 ImagesTemperatures will be dropping back towards the seasonal average over the next few days(Image: James Manning/PA Wire)
“If you find yourself in trouble in the water, the RNLI’s safety advice is Float to Live: Tilt your head back with your ears submerged; relax and try to breathe normally; move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat; it’s OK if your legs sink, we all float differently. Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety.”
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On Tuesday, England and Wales experienced their hottest May days on record as temperatures soared to 35.1C in Kew Gardens, west London, while 32.9C was measured at Cardiff’s Bute Park, the Met Office said.
But the ‘unprecedented’ heatwave appears to be coming to an end today – and in many parts of the country, children will be going back to school on Monday after the half term holidays.
Scattered showers are expected across the UK in the coming hours, with temperatures closer to the average for this time of year. Highs of 24C are expected in London, with 19C in Birmingham, 17C in Aberdeen and 19C in Belfast.