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Ryan Merrifield & Alahna Kindred & Aaron Morris

12 people have died in water accidents since UK temperatures rose - Brits reminded not to swim in open water

At least 12 people have died from heat-related incidents - as temperatures have started to climb to dangerous levels across the United Kingdom.

And the highest heats are set to come today, according to experts at the Met Office - with temperatures encroaching 40C expected to hit parts of England.

These temperatures could also be record breaking for the UK, potentially exceeding the 38.7C recorded in Cambridge in July 2019.

Read more: Tragedy as officers searching for missing Northumberland teenager sadly find body in river

The increasing temperatures have forced the UK Health Security Agency to issue a rare level 4 heat-health alert, alongside the Met Office's first ever red warning from Monday to Wednesday. The Chief Executive of the College of Paramedics has also warned that the 'ferocious heat' could result in deaths.

The Mirror reports that doctors have warned of a danger to life or potentially serious illness from the scorching temperatures, and are recommending avoiding physical exercise, keeping to the shade, drinking plenty of fluids and using in-date sun screen. People have also been warned against using rivers and lakes to cool down, with serious dangers coming from swimming in open waters.

Sadly, at least 12 people have died in heat-related accidents since July 7.

July 18 -

A teenage boy is feared to have drowned after getting into difficulty in the River Thames. Met Police were called to reports at 4.43pm that a child was seen entering the river at Tagg's Island in Hampton.

Unfortunately, efforts to locate the boy were unsuccessful, and efforts to recover his body are still continuing with it not being found.

Earlier on Monday, a body was found in the River Irwell in Bury near 4pm, Greater Manchester Police said. No further details about the age or gender of the person have been released at this stage.

On the same day, Thames Valley Police said officers were called to reports of a 16-year-old boy getting into difficulty in Bray Lake, near Maidenhead, Berkshire at 11.45am. A body was located just after 1.30pm. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

July 17 -

Police Scotland were called to reports of a capsized kayak on the River Spey at about 4.45pm. They recovered the body of a 51-year-old man from the water.

Robert Hattersley, 13, from Gateshead, passed away after getting into trouble in the River Tyne near Ovingham in Northumberland. Emergency services rushed to the scene at around 4.15pm on Sunday. Police officers, firefighters and rescue workers searched for Robert and his body was found in the water shortly afterwards.

(Chonicle Live)

In Northern Ireland, a 53-year-old man was named locally after he died getting into difficulty near County Kerry. Councillors led tributes after fisherman Brendan Teahan died after falling from a boat in Cromane Bay, Killorglin, the Independent.ie reported.

Emergency services were called to reports that someone had come into difficulty into the water at 9.46pm. He died a short while after being removed from the water.

July 16 -

Sussex Police were called to a medical incident near the Brighton Pier shortly after 7pm. A 37-year-old was taken to hospital but later died, SussexLive reports.

A spokesperson said: "Emergency services responded to a medical incident at Brighton beach near Grand Junction Road at about 7.10pm on July 16. A 37-year-old man was taken to hospital but has sadly died. His next of kin has been informed.

"There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be prepared for HM Coroner."

The body of a 50-year-old man was found in Ardsley Reservoir, West Yorkshire following a 24-hour search. Police were called to concerns about someone's safety at 5.30pm and his body was found the next day.

Kalen Waugh, 16, was identified locally as the boy who drowned after getting into difficulty in the water in Salford Quays, Greater Manchester. He took a dip with friends during a day out at the former dock area as temperatures soared across the UK.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed his death is not being treated as suspicious, though formal identification is yet to take place.

July 14 -

Emma Louise Powell passed away in Conwy Morfa, North Wales, after she and two other paddle boarders got into difficulties at the popular beauty spot. A major search and rescue operation for the 24-year-old and the two others were mounted which involved the RNLI, the police, ambulance crews, and a coastguard helicopter, North Wales Live reports.

All three people were rescued from the water, but Emma tragically passed away at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, in the early hours of the morning.

July 11 -

The body of 16-year-old Alfie McCraw, from Wakefield, was found following a search of the water after he was reported missing at about 2.11pm. Emergency service crews rushed to Broad Reach Loch House, of Linton Road, where a body was pulled from the canal.

At least five fire engines, two ambulances and three large police vans arrived at the scene before crews pulled a body out of the water, YorkshireLive reports.

July 9 -

Promising boxer Jamie Lewin, 16, died after getting into difficulty while swimming in a disused quarry at Appley Bridge, Lancashire. He died at East Quarry near Wigan, Lancashire, making it three young people who have lost their lives there, with two previous teen deaths in 2015 and 1999.

His body was recovered by the police.

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