Body of man, 22, recovered from River Severn throughout record-breaking heatwave
Brody Leach’s body was recovered from the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, on Saturday morning after the 22-year-old got into difficulty in the water during the UK heatwave, West Mercia Police said.
Brody sadly died(Image: West Mercia Police)
The body of a 22-year-old man has been pulled from a river after reports he got into difficulties during the scorching heatwave, police have confirmed. Brody Leach’s body was retrieved from the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, on Saturday morning, West Mercia Police announced.
He is thought to be the second fatality after entering open water during the recent blistering temperatures which smashed June records. The riverside area where search operations had been conducted has now reopened following the hunt for Mr Leach after he entered the water on Friday before getting into trouble.
Earlier this week on Wednesday, a 50-year-old man was declared dead at Aberavon beach after encountering difficulties while swimming in waters off the Welsh south coast.
Throughout May’s heatwave, no fewer than 15 people – mostly youngsters – perished while taking a dip in open water. They included Hayden Jones-Powell, 13, who had ventured Meynell Lake, on Fosse Way, Syston to cool down in the water with pals after school when he got into difficulties on June 25 and later died.
Meanwhile, Declan Sawyer, 15, was reported missing after he got into difficulty at Swanholme Lakes. Emergency services were called to the scene at approximately 2.30pm on Sunday, May 24.
A search operation was mounted, and Declan’s body was retrieved by an underwater search team and specialist divers.
The latest spate of tragedies sparked urgent alerts about the perils of wild swimming, as such waters are frequently far chillier than anticipated and can trigger deadly cold water shock syndrome.
Wednesday marked the beginning of three straight days during which Britain’s hottest June temperature record was shattered.
The Met Office later confirmed Friday as the UK’s most sweltering June day ever recorded, with a provisional reading of 37.3C logged in Santon Downham, Suffolk, beating the previous peak of 36.7C set in Merryfield, Somerset, on Thursday.
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