Over a dozen people were reported dead due to water-related deaths in the United Kingdom this week as the nation experienced a record-shattering heat wave.
The UK government issued a heat wave warning for many parts of the nation on May 22. Beginning last Sunday and spanning throughout much of the week, England and Wales saw some of the highest temperatures the countries have ever seen in May. London experienced its highest ever May temperature on multiple consecutive days, peaking at 35.1° C (95.1° F) on Tuesday. Prior to this week, the record stood at 32.8° C (91.0° F) since 1922. The temperature has slightly cooled down over the weekend.
In the unprecedented heat, British residents took to the water to cool off. Since the beginning of the heat wave, news outlets have reported 13 drownings and other water-related deaths. The overwhelming majority of the deaths occurred in inland open bodies of water.
Among the 13 were three teenagers who were all found dead last Monday. Reco Puttock, 13, Lilliana Tomlinson, 16, and another unnamed teenage boy were all found dead in separate incidents during the Bank Holiday.
On that same day, a man in his 60s died after suffering cardiac arrest on a beach in Cornwall. The cardiac arrest came while he was trying to save relatives from the sea.
Many prominent British organizations issued advisories on water safety during the heat wave. Royal Life Saving Society and Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents both told the BBC that the cold water this time of year plays a role in dangers.
“Even though the air has warmed up – and it’s warmed up really quickly (this week) – the water doesn’t warm up. So it’s absolutely crucial that when we get into the water, we get in slowly,” Ashley Jones of the Royal Life Saving Society said.
How awful. I know my cold water tolerance and swimming abilities, but anyone who hasn’t spent a lot of time swimming should be very careful about testing cold water and swimming limits. Stay close to shore and enter slowly.