Five people have died in UK waters during the hottest June on record after getting into difficulty while swimming. The death toll linked to the ongoing heatwave rose to five after the body of a man was pulled from the River Severn in Shrewsbury on Friday morning.
Victims identified across the country
Brody Leach, 22, was last seen alive early on Friday morning when he got into difficulty, prompting a major emergency response. West Mercia Police confirmed that divers recovered his body later that day.
In Southampton, divers searching for a 15-year-old schoolboy who went missing on Wednesday while swimming at Testwood Lakes nature reserve found a body. Police confirmed that his family has been informed and formal identification has been carried out.
In Lancashire, tributes have been paid to 13-year-old Hayden Jones-Powell, whose body was pulled from Meynell Lake in Syston yesterday. His parents said: 'We want him to be remembered by his big smile. His love of animals, his passion towards football and being outside. Hayden also had an amazing sense of humour and was extremely quick-witted. We don't know how we will cope without him.'
The alarm was raised after the teen failed to return from a swim at the lakes on Thursday afternoon during one of the hottest days. Wreake Valley Academy said his death had 'deeply affected everyone at our school and we are providing support to students, staff, and families who need it.'
Other incidents and European heatwave
Police in Essex confirmed the death of a 69-year-old man in Clacton, who got into difficulty in the sea on Friday morning. Essex Police said: 'Officers, paramedics, the fire service and coastguard all attended. Sadly, despite colleagues' best efforts, a 69-year-old man died at the scene.'
The first death linked to the heatwave was that of a 50-year-old man, who was pronounced dead on Wednesday at Aberavon beach on the south coast of Wales.
In France, drowning deaths linked to the heatwave have reached 55 since last Thursday. Within the last 24 hours, Paris recorded 109 heat-related deaths. In Spain, the death toll from heat-related illness has reached 212 since June 21 as the heat dome continues to grip western and central Europe.
