Seven children and two adults have died in a series of separate open water incidents across the UK over the Bank Holiday weekend, as the country experienced record-breaking temperatures.
The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) issued a safety warning following the deaths, saying there is a “heightened risk of drowning when air temperatures are higher”.
Child among latest victims in River Ribble
On Wednesday, the family of 12-year-old Junior Slater from Clayton-le-Woods paid tribute after he died in the River Ribble in North Yorkshire on Tuesday evening.
He had reportedly got into difficulty while swimming with friends, and his body was recovered by emergency services after a large-scale search operation.
Multiple fatalities across England and Wales
Those reported to have died in water-related incidents include:
- Declan Sawyer, 15 – Swanholme Lakes, Lincolnshire
- Reco Puttock, 13 – Leadbeater Dam, West Yorkshire
- A 17-year-old boy – Pickmere Lake, Cheshire
- An unnamed boy – Rother Valley Country Park, South Yorkshire
- An unnamed girl – Kingsbury Water Park, Warwickshire
- A 72-year-old woman – West Angle Bay, Pembrokeshire
- A man in his 60s – Padstow, Cornwall
- Two additional unnamed children in separate incidents
In several cases, emergency services launched major search operations, but victims were later recovered from the water.
Police investigations ongoing
Police forces across multiple regions have confirmed that most of the deaths are not being treated as suspicious, and families have been informed.
In one case, the body of a teenage boy was recovered from Hawley Lake in Hampshire after he was reported missing.
Warnings after record heat
The incidents come during a period of extreme heat, with the Met Office confirming Tuesday was the hottest May day on record in the UK, with temperatures reaching 35°C in parts of England.
Officials and safety groups have urged the public to take extreme care around lakes, rivers, and coastal waters during hot weather, warning that cold water shock and strong currents can be deadly even for strong swimmers.
Tributes from families and communities
Families of the victims have paid emotional tributes, remembering the children as loving and full of life, while communities and sports clubs have also expressed condolences.
Authorities continue to urge parents and young people to be cautious around open water, especially during hot weather periods.
