NORTH YORKSHIRE — A 13-year-old girl was pulled from the River Wharfe in Burnsall, near Skipton, North Yorkshire, on Sunday evening and was airlifted to hospital where she was pronounced dead. Her death is among at least 15 water-related fatalities recorded in the United Kingdom during the recent heatwave.
The heatwave, which brought record-breaking temperatures earlier in the week, has been linked to a surge in drownings across both inland and coastal locations. On Saturday, an 11-year-old boy entered the River Don in Mexborough and has not been seen since. Emergency crews from the National Police Air Service, paramedics, and the fire brigade responded to the area following his disappearance.
A 15-year-old girl from Cheshire died in hospital on Saturday after getting into difficulty in the sea off the coast of Merseyside on bank holiday Monday. In Lancashire, a woman in her 60s died Saturday after she and a man, also in his 60s, attempted to rescue their dog from the sea near Thornton-Cleveleys. The man remains in critical condition.
According to the charity National Water Safety, men in their 60s were more likely to die in water-related accidents than any other demographic group. The organization also noted that inland waters such as rivers and reservoirs accounted for more fatalities than coastal areas during this period.
Julian Smith, the MP for Skipton and Ripon, said: "This morning all my thoughts, prayers and wishes are with the family of the young girl who died in Burnsall yesterday. I was so sorry and sad to hear this horrific and devastating news."
The UK recorded its highest ever May temperature for the second consecutive day last Tuesday, with readings of 35.1°C at Heathrow and Kew Gardens in west London, according to the Met Office. But temperatures dropped sharply by Monday, returning toward seasonal averages. Met Office meteorologist Rebecca Mitchell said: "Ironically, it’s the first week of meteorological summer starting [on Monday], but it will be feeling much more like spring or autumn and a big contrast to the heatwave." Forecasters expect rain, possible thunderstorms, strengthening winds, and temperatures as much as 14°C lower in some areas compared with last week.