A 13-year-old boy has died after getting into difficulty while swimming at a reservoir in West Yorkshire during the Bank Holiday heatwave, police confirmed on Tuesday.Emergency services rushed to Leadbeater Dam on Lumb Lane in Halifax at around 3.20pm on Monday after reports that the teenager was struggling in the water. The boy was later pulled out and taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police rule out foul play
West Yorkshire Police said Calderdale CID is investigating the incident, but there are currently no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.In a statement, the force said officers, firefighters and paramedics responded quickly to the scene after receiving distress calls from members of the public.Leadbeater Dam is known locally as a popular swimming spot, particularly during spells of hot weather.
UK records hottest May day on record
The tragedy came as Britain experienced exceptionally high temperatures, with the Met Office confirming the hottest May day ever recorded in the UK.Kew Gardens in south-west London registered 34.8°C on Monday, setting a new provisional record for the warmest meteorological spring temperature in the country.Forecasters warned temperatures could climb even higher on Tuesday, with several parts of southern England and Wales expected to touch 35°C or even 36°C.
Another teenager found dead in Lincoln Lake search
In a separate incident, police confirmed that a body was recovered during the search for 15-year-old Declan Sawyer, who went missing after entering Swanholme Lakes in Lincoln on Sunday afternoon.Lincolnshire Police said specialist dive teams located the body later that evening. The teenager’s family has been informed and is being supported by officers.“Our thoughts are with his family during this incredibly difficult time,” the force said, while urging the public not to spread unverified information online.
Fresh concerns over open water safety
The back-to-back tragedies have renewed concerns over water safety as soaring temperatures drive crowds to lakes, reservoirs and dams across the UK.Authorities continue to warn people about the hidden dangers of open water, including cold-water shock, strong currents and sudden drops in depth, even during hot weather.
