The body of a 22-year-old man was discovered in the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, following an incident during the recent heatwave. Brody Leach’s body was found this morning, according to West Mercia Police. He is believed to be the second casualty linked to entering open water during the heatwave, which experienced record-breaking temperatures for June.
Police had cordoned off a section of the riverside for searches after Leach encountered trouble in the river last Friday. However, the area has now reopened to the public.
In a separate incident on Wednesday, a 50-year-old man lost his life at Aberavon beach in Wales after experiencing difficulties while swimming in the sea. Emergency services were called to the scene, and despite efforts by HM Coastguard to perform CPR, the man from Cilfrew, Neath Port Talbot, passed away. Authorities confirmed that his death is not under suspicion.
During the previous heatwave in May, at least 15 individuals, primarily children, drowned while swimming in open waters. This tragic event led to widespread alerts regarding the hazards of swimming in natural bodies of water, which can be significantly colder than anticipated and may result in cold water shock syndrome, a potentially fatal condition.
The scorching temperatures continued to break records, with Friday being officially declared as the hottest June day in the UK’s history by the Met Office. A temperature of 37.3°C was recorded in Santon Downham, Suffolk, surpassing the previous high of 36.7°C registered in Merryfield, Somerset, just a day earlier.
The Mirror has initiated the Save Lives For Sam water safety campaign to address the escalating drowning crisis in the UK. Supported by MPs, Olympic champions, national water safety organizations, and bereaved families, the campaign advocates for immediate measures to enhance water safety, including mandatory water safety education in schools, a nationwide awareness initiative, improved lifesaving apparatus at high-risk water locations, the implementation of Sam’s Law, and the appointment of a dedicated Minister for Water Safety. To learn more about the campaign and how you can contribute, click here.