A father has expressed his gratitude to two young men who bravely attempted to rescue his 13-year-old son from drowning in a reservoir during the scorching bank holiday weekend. The boy, identified locally as Reco, tragically lost his life after getting into difficulty at Leadbeater Dam near Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Tributes and Heartbreak
Flowers and heartfelt messages have been left at the scene, with notes reading 'RIP Reco. Miss you millions' and 'RIP Reco. You will be forever missed.' In a series of emotional Facebook posts, his father Alan Damon Robinson wrote: 'I was hoping I'd wake up this morning and it [would have] been a nightmare but it's not, it's reality. Rest in eternal peace my boy. Heartbroken isn't the word.' He added: 'To the lads that jumped in please message me so I can come down and shake your hands.'
Witnesses and Rescue Attempts
The teenager drowned in front of dozens of onlookers at the popular swimming spot. At least two individuals are believed to have jumped into the water in an attempt to save him. A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police confirmed that the boy was pulled from the water and taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Multiple Drownings During Heatwave
Reco's death is one of several tragedies during the record-breaking May heatwave. Three other teenagers and a man in his 60s also lost their lives. The man, aged in his 60s, suffered a cardiac arrest after entering the sea at Tregirls Beach, Padstow, to assist two family members who were in difficulty. Both family members were rescued by members of the public. A teenage girl's body was recovered from Kingsbury Water Park in Warwickshire, and a fourth teenager's body was found at Rother Valley Country Park in South Yorkshire after he went missing on Monday evening.
RNLI Warning
The RNLI has warned of the 'very real risk' of swimming in open water. Despite record high air temperatures over the bank holiday weekend, water temperatures remain dangerously low, increasing the risk of cold water shock. This can cause hyperventilation, a spike in heart rate and blood pressure, and in severe cases, even competent swimmers can drown as their bodies struggle to cope with the sudden temperature change.
Safety Advice from Fire Chiefs
The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is urging families to discuss the dangers of unsupervised swimming in rivers, lakes, quarries, canals, and reservoirs, especially during warm weather. Gavin Ellis, NFCC Drowning Prevention lead, stated: 'No family should have to experience the devastation of losing a loved one in the water. We know that warm weather encourages people to visit rivers, lakes and reservoirs, but these places can be extremely dangerous. Cold water shock can affect anyone, no matter how confident they feel in the water. Jumping into open water can cause an involuntary gasp response, panic and loss of swimming ability almost immediately, which is why we urge people not to swim in unsupervised locations during this hot weather. We're asking parents and carers to have open conversations with children and teenagers about the risks, and for young people to look after each other and make safe decisions around water. These incidents can happen very quickly, but many are preventable.'
The series of drownings serves as a stark reminder of the hidden dangers of open water, even during periods of hot weather.
