Body of missing boy, 15, found in reservoir

Two officers in uniforms and black hats stood facing forwards. On the backs of their uniforms one reads 'POLICE' the other reads 'PCSO' stood in front of police taper by a bridge in a leafy area. — Image caption,

The 15-year-old boy’s body was found on Saturday night by specialist search teams

ByStewart WhittinghamNorth West

The body of a 15-year-old boy has been recovered from a reservoir.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said it had been looking for the teenager after receiving reports he had got into difficulty at 18:30 BST on Saturday at Cowbury Reservoir in Stalybridge, Tameside.

A force spokesperson said the body had been found in the water later that evening, adding formal identification had taken place and his family had been informed.

Elsewhere in Greater Manchester, a search continues for another boy. Police said he got into difficulty in the River Irwell in Clifton Country Park, Salford, on Saturday afternoon.

GMP said the boy missing in Salford had last been seen shortly before 17:00.

A force spokesperson said officers were called to reports of a boy “getting into difficulty”.

Several police cars/ vans parked on a roadside — Image caption,

Police remained at the scene at Clifton Country Park, Salford, earlier

The spokesperson added: “Emergency services and specialist search teams remain at the scene. The incident is ongoing.”

No further details about the boy, including his age, have been released.

The River Irwell surrounded by plants and green shrubs on the river banks — Image caption,

Police said the missing boy was last seen in the River Irwell late on Saturday afternoon

Speaking about the Tameside body discovery, Ch Insp Helen Baxter said it was “nothing short of devastating and my thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the young boy who sadly lost his life in such awful circumstances”.

She added: “We are confident that there are no suspicious circumstances and that this is such a sad reminder of the dangers of entering open water.

“We remind the public to please avoid being tempted to cool off in reservoirs, rivers, canals or ponds.

“We all want to enjoy the warm weather; please make sure you do so in a safe way.”

A sign reading 'DANGER! Deep Water' — Image caption,

Police urged people not to be tempted by getting into reservoirs, rivers, canals or ponds to cool off

There have been several disappearances and deaths in water during this summer’s hot weather.

Police recovered the body on Saturday of a 15-year-old boy who went missing after swimming at Testwood Lakes nature reserve, near Totton, Hampshire, while 22-year-old Brody Leach died after he got into difficulty in the River Severn in the early hours of Friday morning.

A man died at a beach in Essex on Friday, while on Wednesday, a 50-year-old man was pronounced dead at Aberavon beach after getting into difficulty while swimming in the sea off the south coast of Wales.

Several people died during a previous hot spell in May, including 12-year-old Junior Slater, who died after getting into difficulty in the River Ribble, in Lancashire, a17-year-old David Tita Jr,

Meanwhile, up to 20 teenagers were rescued from choppy seas off the Lancashire coast.

HM Coastguard said the children were helped on Friday evening in Fleetwood after they got into difficulty in rough seas “a significant distance out from the sea wall”.