A 37-year-old man died after getting into difficulty in a park lake as temperatures soar.
Emergency crews were called to Pittville Park, Cheltenham shortly before 6pm yesterday evening (Thursday) to reports of a man getting into difficulty in the water.
Despite attempts to save the man, he was pronounced dead at the scene. His death is not being treated as suspicious and his next of kin have been informed, reports Gloucestershire Live.
The lake and areas of the park were cordoned off last night. Police remain at the scene this morning.
A spokesman for Gloucestershire Constabulary said: “At 5.47pm yesterday, Thursday 16 June, police were called with a report that a man was in difficulty in the lake at Pittville Park in Cheltenham.
"Officers and colleagues from other emergency services attended, however despite their best efforts the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
“His next of kin and the coroner have been informed. At this time, the death of the 37-year-old man is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”
The man’s death comes at the same time as warnings have been issued about the dangers of wild swimming as temperatures across the UK soar.
Today the temperature reached 32.4C at Heathrow in west London. The all-time temperature record for the UK sits at 38.7C, recorded at Cambridge University on July 25, 2019.
Today's scorching weather makes parts of the UK hotter than the Sahara, with temperatures in Dakhla, Western Sahara, struggling to get above 23C.
Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Jason Kelly, said; “The heat is a result of a mix of home-grown warming due to a high pressure over the southern half of the UK, as well as a south westerly airflow bringing warm air, which has been over the continent through the week, across the country.
“This is the first spell of hot weather this year and it is unusual for temperatures to exceed these values in June. Some areas may see warm nights with minimum temperatures expected to be in the high teens or even low 20°Cs overnight, especially in urban areas such as London.”
Brits are also warned over very high pollen levels and high UV levels, with people being told they should take extra care if they are outdoors for prolonged periods of time.
On Thursday, the mercury rose above 20C in all four home nations, with temperatures almost reaching 30C in southeast England.
That was trumped today, with some Brits set to bask in temperatures close to 34C.
The sizzling weather isn't set to last too long with today expected to be the peak. A mix of cloud and showers sweeping parts of the UK is due to follow over the weekend.
