HEATWAVE TRAGEDY
Talented boxer Frank Varey, 16, drowns in heatwave river tragedy as Tyson Fury leads tributes to ‘future star’
A TALENTED teen boxer drowned in a river during the 32C heatwave yesterday.
Frank Varey, 16, tragically died in the River Dee, Cheshire, with Tyson Fury leading the tributes to the "future star."
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A seven-hour search started yesterday at 2.30pm after reports that the teen was missing in the water.
Tributes have flooded in for the "talented and popular" boxing star - who won several national titles and represented England in the European Championship.
Professional World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury said: “RIP Frank. Was a future world champ.”
And Rhoose Boxing Club, where Frank would train with his dad every summer, said: "It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to one of our England boxers, Frank Varey, who sadly passed away this afternoon after he drowned in Cheshire river."
Footage posted to Frank's social media showed him arriving at Chester's riverfront with his mates - as the temperature topped 31C.
Videos showed the lads jumping into the water yesterday afternoon before the tragedy struck.
One pal, who was at the river with Frank yesterday, said: ";RIP Frank, love you brother.
"Tried everything I could to save you. Hearts in bits.
"Please everyone, stay out of the rivers."
The 16-year-old's aunt said there are "no words" to describe the tragedy, adding: "My beautiful first nephew there are no words.
"Please keep my sister and brother in law and our full family in your prayers the lord knows we need them #TeamVarey. Full life ahead of him."
TRIBUTES TO FRANK
Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell MBE also paid tribute to the young star: "RIP Frank Varey.
"Rest well champ, thoughts with all your friends and family."
England's Boxing Talent coach John Stubbs said: “Frank was a larger than life character.
“No boy should lose their life at 16. This is a sad day for the boxing community and my thoughts are with big Frank and the family.”
Fellow England Talent coach Shiney Singh added: “Absolutely heartbroken even writing this. The absolute bundle of life Frank Varey taken from us.
"Only yesterday he was in the gym looking a million dollars and there was no doubt in my mind that he was going to smash the Euro selections.
";He was the life of the gym and lit up the room."
Frank is one of the 22 people who have drowned during the heatwave which has scorched the UK over the past five days.
In a statement, Chester Police said: "Police searching for a missing teenage boy in Chester have found a body.
"The 16-year-old was reported missing at around 2.30pm on Thursday 22 July after he disappeared while swimming in the River Dee.
"Extensive searches have been taking place throughout the afternoon and into the evening. Search teams found a body in the river shortly before 8pm.
"Formal identification has not yet taken place but it is believed to be that of the missing boy.
"The teenager’s family have been informed and they are being supported by specially trained officers."
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Superintendent Myra Ball said: “Sadly this is the second river death that we have seen this week in the county.
"This appears to be another tragic accident and our thoughts are with the boy’s family at this very difficult time.”
The string of tragedies has seen a 13-year-old boy drown in a lake while the woman in her 60s was pulled from a harbour.
A teenage boy was also pulled from the River Trent in Swarkstone, Derbyshire, around 11.30am after getting into difficulty on Tuesday afternoon.
And later that evening a man drowned at Stanborough Lakes in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, a man in his 20s died after being pulled from the sea, at Crosby Beach, Merseyside.
And in West Yorkshire, 15-year-old Caden Taylor failed to surface after jumping into the Knottingley and Goole Canal with friends.
The wave of deaths comes as temperatures soared to 32C and Brits packed beaches and lakes to cool off.
Authorities have issued several warnings about the dangers of swimming to cool off during high temperatures.
WAVE OF DEATHS
On Saturday, two people drowned while swimming in scorching hot conditions.
A holidaymaker in the sea near Blackpool, Lancs, died after "accidentally getting out of his depth", and 16-year-old Mohammad Abdul Hamid drowned after entering the River Eden in Rickery Park near Stony Holme, Carlisle.
A further eight deaths were recorded on Sunday - the hottest day of the year.
Lee Heard, RLSS UK's charity director, said: "Whilst we recognise how tempting it is to cool off in the UK's beautiful waterways, they hide hazards that tragically take lives each year and we urge the public to use caution when entering the water, getting acclimatised to the water temperature before jumping in.
'AVOID SWIMMING ALONE'
"The Royal Life Saving Society UK urge everyone to learn vital skills and knowledge to prevent future accidental drownings.
"The difference between the air temperature and water temperature can literally take your breath away; this is called cold water shock. It is silent, invisible and deadly.
"Water can also hide debris, strong currents and sudden changes in depth that can catch out even the strongest swimmers.
"The Royal Life Saving Society UK urge everyone to learn vital skills and knowledge to prevent future accidental drownings."
RNLI Water Safety Manager Sam Johnson said they were seeing a "big increase" in incidents in the sea involving children.
He said: "Our main advice is to visit a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"Children should be supervised at all times and people of all ages should avoid swimming alone.
"We want people to enjoy the coast but urge everyone to respect the water, think about their own safety and know what to do in an emergency."
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Heartbreaking video of boxer Frank Varey, 16, playing before he drowned as pal says ‘I tried everything to save you’
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