A large-scale rescue operation is in progress after a 15-year-old boy went missing while swimming in a lake in Hampshire, England, amidst a severe heatwave. Police, ambulance services, search and rescue teams, drones, and marine units have been deployed to locate the teenager.
The boy was last seen at Testwood Lakes Nature Reserve near Totton. The reserve is a popular location for families seeking to cool off during hot weather. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary reported the incident at 1:35 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24. The area has been cordoned off and is currently inaccessible to the public.
"A multi-agency operation is underway following a report that a 15-year-old boy is missing after he was last seen swimming at Testwood Lakes near Totton," a police spokesperson stated. "We have deployed the marine units to aid in the search, alongside colleagues from NPAS, South Central Ambulance Service, and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire Service. We will provide further updates when we are able."
The chief executive of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Debbie Tann, confirmed the incident and stated that the site has been closed until further notice. A witness reported that their daughter was part of a group of ten friends at the lakes when one of the boys disappeared after swimming out into the water. The group had been waiting for news since approximately 1:30 p.m.
The incident occurs as temperatures across Britain have reached record highs, with temperatures hitting 36.1C, breaking a 50-year-old record. Thousands of people have been seeking relief at beaches and beauty spots during the ongoing heatwave.