Heatwave drowning death toll reaches 24 as body of girl, 14, found in Greater Manchester

The body of a 14-year-old girl has tragically been pulled from a waterway after she got into difficulty while swimming in Greater Manchester, as the UK’s heatwave death toll reaches 24. 

Emergency services were called to Carrbrook Angling Club in Stalybridge, Tameside, just before 6:30pm yesterday, then scoured the area.

The body was sadly recovered from the water near Cromswood Drive in Carrbrook, a village to the east of Stalybridge, overnight.

A body has been found in the search for a 14-year-old girl who got into difficulty whilst swimming in Greater Manchester

The body of a teenager was pulled form the water near Cromswood Drive in Carrbrook, a village to the east of Stalybridge, overnight after reports of her getting into trouble in the water at 4;12pm

The girl has been formally identified and trained officers are supporting her family, as the UK’s heatwave death toll reaches 24

The street lies close to both the River Tame and two fishing lakes.

The girl has been formally identified and trained officers are supporting her family.

The North Ambulance Service (NWAS) sent ‘a number of resources’ including the Hazardous Area Response Team to the incident. 

Inquiries are ongoing but officers from Tameside CID said they are confident there are no suspicious circumstances following their initial inquiries. 

The North Ambulance Service (NWAS) sent ‘a number of resources’ including th Hazardous Area Response Team to the incident

Inquiries are ongoing but officers from Tameside CID said they are confident there are no suspicious circumstances following their initial inquiries

Detective Inspector Steven Horton, of Tameside CID said: ‘Yesterday evening’s events are nothing short of devastating and my thoughts are with the friends and family of the young girl who lost her life in such an awful way.

‘We are doing all we can to support the girl’s family at this incredibly difficult time and we are focused on ensuring they get the answers they deserve as to how this tragedy occurred.’

He added that this incident was a ‘sad reminder of the dangers of entering open water, whatever the weather.’

Emergency services looked dejected as they searched the water at Carrbrook Angling club in the dark

The alarm was raised at around 6:30pm yesterday and the body of a 14-year-old girl was found in the water overnight

Detective Inspector Steven Horton, of Tameside CID said yesterday’s events were ‘nothing short of devastating’ and a ‘sad reminder of the dangers of entering open water’

This comes after a the body of a man ‘in his early 20s’ was pulled from the Hampton Court area of the River Thames after getting into trouble in the water on Sunday.

On Saturday, a ‘child under 16’ and a 21-year-old man also died swimming during a heatwave that saw temperatures reach 33C this weekend. 

Police, paramedics, firefighters and lifeboat crews rushed to the scene at Hampton Court on Sunday following a call at 4:12pm to a person in the water getting into difficulty.

However the body of the man was recovered at around 10:30pm. 

Superintendent Richard Smith, Acting Commander for the South West, said: ‘Our thoughts go out to the young man who has lost his life.

This comes after the body of a man ‘in his early 20s’ was pulled from the Hampton Court area of the River Thames after getting into trouble in the water on Sunday

Police, paramedics, firefighters and lifeboat crews rushed to the scene at Hampton Court on Sunday following a call at 4:12pm to a person in the water getting into difficulty

‘Our officers worked incredibly hard with partner agencies but despite a rapid response he could not be rescued.’

A spokesperson for Metropolitan Police said a ‘multi-agency response’ was launched.

The spokesperson added: ‘Officers from the South West Command Unit and Surrey Police, the National Police Air Service, as well as the London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service and RNLI, began searching the river.

‘At around 10.30pm the body of the man – believed to be aged in his early 20s – was recovered from the water by police divers. His next of kin have been informed.’

Superintendent Richard Smith, Acting Commander for the South West, said officers ‘worked extremely hard with partner agencies but despite a rapid response he could not be rescued’

Max Taylor, a senior news editor at NBC, was paddle-boarding at Hampton Court Palace when the incident happened, and spoke to eyewitnesses.

‘They told me a young male in his mid-late teens was swimming in the river near Hampton Court bridge,’ he told Sky News.

‘He called for help and was in waist deep water. They said they thought he was joking as he wasn’t in deep water — seconds later he had disappeared.

‘I paddled past and saw the inflatable search boats go in and start looking for the young lad — but it must have been a good 10-15 minutes since I spoke to the couple in the boat.’

On Saturday, the body of a 21-year-old man – named locally as Jay Walker – was pulled from a lake in Doncaster

Emergency services rushed to reports that ‘a child under 16’ was in the water and a search was carried before the boy’s body was recovered at around 11;30pm on Saturday. 

Just two hours earlier, the body of a 21-year-old man – named locally as Jay Walker – was pulled from a lake in Doncaster.

Also on Saturday, an unidentified man was discovered in water at Park Lime Pits nature reserve in Walsall.

Police officers have launched an investigation and are treating his death as unexplained. Work is bein carried out to identify the man and inform his family of his death, it has been confirmed.

How to stay safe in open water as UK’s heatwave death toll reaches 24 

As the country was hit with record temperatures, more and more people took to swimming in open water.

However since July 9, 24 people have died across the UK after getting into difficulty in the water.

Drownings timeline

July 9 – East Quarry, Wigan

July 11 – Aire and Calvder Navigation, West Yorkshire

July 14 – Conwy Morfa 

July 16 – Ardsley Reservoir, Yorkshire

July 16 – Brighton, East Sussex

July 16 – Salford Quays, Greater Manchester

July 17 – River Spey, Moray

July 17 – Ovingham, Northumberland

July 18 – Tagg’s Island, Richmond upon Thames

July 18 – Cotswold Water Park

July 18 – Isle of Wight 

July 18 –  River Irwell, Bury

July 18 – Bray Lake, Windsor

July 19 – Clacton Pier, Clacton-on-Sea

August 8 – Cheshunt, Hertfordshire

August 10 – Humberston Fitties, Lincolnshire

August 10 – Walton Beach, Walton-on-the-Naze

August 11 – Ullswater, Lake District 

August 11 – Shepperton, Surrey

August 13 – Park Lime Pits, Walsall

August 13 – Sea at Skegness 

August 13 – Lakeside, Doncaster

August 14 – River Thames, Hampton Court

August 15 – Carrbrook Angling Club, Greater Manchester

How to stay safe in the water

The Royal Life Saving Society issued a warning about the dangers of open water swimming in July after multiple drownings.

Here is why open water swimming can be so dangerous and who you can keep yourself safe.

Dangers of open water swimming 

The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) has warned that there can be many hidden dangers while swimming in open water, even if you are a good swimmer and the water looks safe. 

Cold water shock

The RLSS says that all waters in the UK and Ireland are cold enough to cause cold water shock, even during heatwaves. 

Cold water shock can cause you to hyperventilate and your blood pressure could increase rapidly in order to cool your body down, which can make swimming difficult.

Unseen dangers

There can be many hazards in the water that were not obvious when looking at it initially, this can include sharp objects, weeds that your legs can get tangled in, or submerged machinery and underwater ledges in quarries.

Strong currents 

Seas and rivers can have strong currents that are not obvious on the surface but could prove a challenge to even strong swimmers.

You should find out about currents before swimming, including seeing if there are any warning signs or getting advice from locals.

How to stay safe

The RLSS also offered tips on how to stay safe when open water swimming.

Look for safety equipment and lifeguards

You should always try to choose to swim in an area with lifeguards or safety equipment in case you get into difficulty.

Float to live 

Getting into trouble in the water can cause you to panic but staying calm and floating can save your life. 

The three steps are: lean back and extend your arms and legs, try to float until you feel calmer, and then shout for help or try to swim safely.

Never swim alone

If you are open water swimming, you should never go alone as there is no-one to help you o raise the alarm should you get into difficulty.

Stay near shore

Lastly you can increase your safety by staying near the shore when swimming in open water. 

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