Members of the public made valiant efforts to rescue a 13-year-old girl who went missing in a river in Yorkshire on Sunday. Tragically, despite their bravery, the teenager passed away in the hospital after being retrieved from the water in Skipton, North Yorkshire. Swiftly transported by air ambulance, the girl was attended to by emergency services upon their arrival at the scene.
This heartbreaking incident adds to a series of open-water fatalities during the recent heatwave, making the young girl the 17th individual to lose their life in open water across the UK. North Yorkshire Police expressed gratitude towards the public for their rescue attempts and conveyed their deepest sympathies to the girl’s family during this difficult period.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police reported that emergency services were alerted to the situation at around 6:30 pm on Sunday, May 31, 2026, near Burnsall on the River Wharfe in Skipton after the girl was reported missing. Despite the collaborative efforts of bystanders and medical personnel, the girl unfortunately did not survive.
The police spokesperson added that the identity of the girl is currently withheld, emphasizing the importance of respecting her family’s privacy as they mourn their loss. The public’s assistance at the scene was acknowledged and appreciated by the authorities.