SWIM TRAGEDY
Man in his 20s killed in waterpark tragedy after pensioner and three teens die while swimming, bringing total dead to 13
A MAN in his 20s has become the 13th person to die after getting into difficulty swimming during the heatwave.
He was killed swimming at Cotswold Water Park, Wiltshire.
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Police, fire crews, two ambulances as well as an air ambulance were sent to the scene in Ashton Keynes at around 6pm on Monday, but he died a short time after.
Meanwhile, 14-year-old boy is feared to have drowned after getting into difficulties in the Thames in Richmond, West London, police said on Monday.
Emergency services were scrambled to reports of a 16-year-old boy in difficulty in Bray Lake, Maidenhead, Berkshire, at around 11.45am.
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A desperate search was launched but the teen's body was sadly found yesterday afternoon.
Superintendent Michael Greenwood, the LPA Commander for Windsor & Maidenhead said: “This is an absolute tragedy in which a young boy has died after getting into difficulty in the water of Bray Lake.
“The boy’s next of kin have been notified and are being offered support at this extremely difficult and traumatic time."
In a further tragedy on Monday, a man in his 70s was pulled unconscious from the water in Sandown on the Isle of Wight.
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Emergency services battled for 40 minutes to save the tourist, but he was declared dead at the scene.
It came just hours after a 13-year-old lad came into trouble in the River Tyne near Ovingham, Northumberland, on Sunday.
Robert Hattersley, from Crawcrook, Tyne and Wear, died near Ovingham, after getting into difficulty in the water at about 4.15pm on Sunday.
Paying tribute, his family said he was "so kind and loving" and "brought a smile to so many people's faces".
They said: "It is impossible to put into words the heartbreak we are feeling - Robert was so kind and loving.
"We are absolutely devastated by what has happened."
Northumbria Police described his death as "absolutely tragic".
The deaths are the latest in a spate of water-related tragedies during the blistering heatwave.
Just half an hour after the search to find Robert was launched, cops in Scotland were called to a man whose kayak capsized on the River Spey in Moray.
'ABSOLUTELY TRAGIC'
Police said the alarm was raised on the River Spey, near Fochabers, at about 16:45 on Sunday.
A 51-year-old man was pulled from the water by emergency services but he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
The same night, a man in his 50s died after getting into difficulty in the water at Cromane Bay in Kilorglin, Ireland.
It came after paramedics battled to save a man near Brighton Pier on Saturday evening - just hours after a man died at Ardsley Reservoir, West Yorks., the same afternoon.
A witness at the scene said a man was pulled from the water before that area of the beach was cleared - with a 37-year-old tragically dying after being rushed to hospital.
The witness told : “I have small children so didn’t really get close, but the police came and cleared the beach.
“We saw him being dragged out of the water and CPR being administered."
It came just hours after a 50-year-old man drowned while swimming in Ardsley Reservoir, West Yorks., sparking a 24-hour search.
Police said they were told a man had got into difficulty in the water at 5.30pm on Saturday, adding his death is not being treated as suspicious.
And cops are now urging swimmers to stay out of the water after four other Brits drowned in recent days.
The weather is due to get hotter this week, I would urge people to not enter or swim in reservoirs or open waters.
Detective Inspector Phil Hughes
Detective Inspector Phil Hughes of Leeds CID said: “This incident serves as a timely reminder about the dangers of swimming in open water.
“The weather is due to get hotter this week, I would urge people to not enter or swim in reservoirs or open waters.”
Yorkshire Water, which owns Ardsley Reservoir, says swimming is prohibited in the area, insisting reservoirs are "really dangerous places", "even if you're a great swimmer".
And Greater Manchester Police issued a fresh warning after a 16-year-old boy drowned in Salford Quays on Saturday.
Kalen Waugh had been swimming with pals before the tragedy struck, with tributes since pouring in for the "lovely" lad.
Det Insp Joanne Johnston, said: "We remind the public to avoid being tempted to cool off in reservoirs, rivers, canals or ponds.
"We all want to enjoy the warm weather; please make sure you do so in a safe way. Think of your family - look out for your friends."
Two more schoolboys drowned in separate swimming accidents last week.
Jamie Lewin, 16, died after getting into difficulties while swimming in a quarry at Appley Bridge, Lancashire, on July 9.
Two days later Alfie McCraw, also 16, from Wakefield, passed away after going for an open-water dip.
Elsewhere, Emma Louise Powell, 24, drowned while paddleboarding with two pals at a North Wales beauty spot on Thursday evening.
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A major rescue operation was launched by emergency services and the three were pulled from the water at Conwy Morfa beach.
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Tragically Emma, from Llandudno, could not be saved.
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