The body of a 15-year-old boy has been recovered from the River Irwell at Clifton Country Park in Swinton, Greater Manchester, police confirmed. The discovery marks the 11th death in a water-related incident during the recent extreme heatwave.
The teenager had gotten into trouble in the river on Saturday afternoon. Specialist officers are providing support to the boy's family, and police have stated there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident. Detective Inspector Dave Ogden of Salford CID called the event "truly heartbreaking" and a "serious reminder of the risks associated with open water."
The heatwave saw temperatures reach an all-time June high of 37.7C (99.86F) and prompted an unprecedented three-day red warning for extreme heat. This followed a May heatwave where at least 17 people died in water-related incidents.
Among the other confirmed fatalities during the June heatwave are a woman in her 60s pulled from water in Tottington, Greater Manchester; a 15-year-old boy who died at Cowbury Reservoir in Stalybridge; and 22-year-old Brody Leach, whose body was recovered from the River Severn in Shrewsbury. In Hampshire, a body was found while searching for a missing 15-year-old boy last seen in Testwood Lakes. A 69-year-old man died in Clacton after being called to a medical emergency, and a 55-year-old woman's body was recovered from a pool in Sandwell Valley Country Park. A 50-year-old man died at Aberavon beach in Wales, and a 13-year-old boy, Hayden Jones-Powell, was recovered from a lake in Syston, Leicestershire. Bodies were also pulled from the River Aire in Leeds and from water in Wolverley, Worcestershire.
Record-breaking temperatures persisted for three consecutive days, with a provisional peak of 37.7C recorded in Lingwood, Norfolk. The Met Office's extreme heat warning concluded on Sunday morning. The heat also contributed to thunderstorms, causing significant flight disruptions at Gatwick and Heathrow airports, with 484 inbound and outbound flights delayed.
Health services reported an increase in life-threatening emergency calls. Schools and nurseries closed, and a hosepipe ban was introduced in Kent. Several hospitals declared critical incidents, leading to the cancellation of planned operations and appointments.
The heatwave was attributed to a "heat-dome" phenomenon, an area of high pressure that trapped heat over western Europe. Forecasters predict lower temperatures for the coming week, with highs in the low to mid-20Cs and rain expected in northern and western areas.