A total of 14 people have died after experiencing difficulties in open water incidents amid rising heatwave conditions, with British police warning that such locations remain “extremely dangerous”.
Emergency services were called to Balderton Lake near Heron Way in New Balderton at around 2.35pm on Thursday after reports of a man entering the water, according to Nottinghamshire Police, as reported by PA Media/dpa.
A 19-year-old man who had been at the lake with friends was pulled from the water and received treatment at the scene before being taken to hospital.
On Saturday, police confirmed that the man had died, adding that his next of kin had been informed and were being supported by specially trained officers.
Authorities said no suspicious circumstances were believed to be involved, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Newark Chief Inspector Clive Collings described the incident as tragic, noting the emotional impact on the local community and urging those affected to seek support if needed.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service group manager Charlotte Weatherall-Smith said such cases serve as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with open water, especially during hot weather.
She warned that water temperatures can be far colder than expected even on sunny days, and sudden cold-water shock can occur quickly and prove fatal.
“Do not enter the water or attempt rescue operations yourself, as it could put more lives at risk,” she said.
The warning comes after police confirmed that a 15-year-old girl also died in hospital on Saturday following difficulties in the sea near Merseyside over the bank holiday period.
Chiedza Nyanjowa from Cheshire had been taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital after swimming at Formby Beach, according to Merseyside Police.
The surge in hot weather has drawn large numbers of people to open water areas, resulting in multiple fatalities across regions including South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Cornwall, Hampshire, Warwickshire, Cheshire, Pembrokeshire, Lincolnshire and Lancashire in recent days.
Among the cases was a 72-year-old woman who died after being recovered from West Angle Bay beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales, and a 13-year-old boy, believed to be Reco Puttock, who died following difficulties at Leadbeater Reservoir near Halifax, West Yorkshire.
England and Wales recorded their hottest day of May on Tuesday, reaching 35.1°C at Kew Gardens in west London, with 32.9°C recorded at Bute Park in Cardiff, according to the Met Office.
Forecasters said temperatures could reach 30°C in southeast England on Saturday, expected to be the final day of the intense heat.
By Sunday, rainfall is expected across parts of the United Kingdom, with temperatures returning closer to seasonal averages.
London is forecast to reach 24°C, Birmingham 19°C, Aberdeen 17°C and Belfast 19°C.
Meanwhile, South East Water said it had restored drinking water supplies to 15,500 customers across Kent, including Whitstable and Herne Bay, after network issues during the heatwave. About 500 customers were still experiencing outages, while 3,600 faced intermittent disruption.
