Teenage girl dies after swimming at beach - as number of heatwave open water deaths continues to rise

A 15-year-old girl has died in a water-related incident during the heatwave.

Chiedza Nyanjowa, from Cheshire, was taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital after getting into difficulty while swimming on Formby beach on Bank Holiday Monday, 25 May.

Emergency services were called to reports of a concern for safety around 3.30pm.

Chiedza died in hospital on Saturday.

In a tribute, her family described her as a "bubbly person" who "loved Christ and going to church".

"She loved cooking, she was a giver and wanted to be [a] nurse when she grew up so she could give back," they said.

"She will be greatly missed and remembered for her kind spirit."

The body of a man has also been discovered in a river in Norfolk, bringing the total number of open water deaths during the heatwave up to 15.

Emergency services have been at the scene since Friday afternoon after reports of a concern for the safety of a man in the water on a stretch of the River Yare at Surlingham, near Ferry Road, at just after 2.30pm, police said.

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Specialist equipment, including sonar, was used in the search, and a dive team discovered the body of a man in his 40s this afternoon, who was declared dead at the scene.

The death is being treated as unexplained, but is not believed to be suspicious, Norfolk Constabulary said in a statement.

Meanwhile, a 19-year-old died after getting into difficulty in New Balderton in Nottinghamshire.

Emergency services were called to Balderton Lake at 2.35pm on Thursday, following reports of a man entering the water, Nottinghamshire Police said.

The teenager, who had been at the lake with friends, was recovered from the water and treated at the scene before being taken to hospital.

On Saturday, the force said the man had not survived. His family has been informed.

Chief Inspector for Newark Clive Collings, said: "This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are solely with this young man's family.

"During hot weather we know people want to keep cool but open waters are exceptionally dangerous as there is no way of telling what's beneath the surface."

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High temperatures have attracted many to open water swimming, and there have been fatalities in South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Cornwall, Hampshire, Warwickshire, Cheshire, Pembrokeshire, Lincolnshire and Lancashire.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has issued a water safety warning following the spate of deaths, urging people to follow key safety advice if they find themselves in trouble in open water.

It warned that: "While the sea or open water may look inviting during hot weather, it remains dangerously cold, putting even the strongest of swimmers at risk of cold water shock."

Cold water shock is a physiological reaction that happens when a sudden change in skin temperature occurs - for example, from hot air to cold water.

It can cause uncontrollable gasping and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, which can lead to panic and drowning very quickly.

Sky News meteorologist Christopher England said Saturday was the last of the really hot days of the current dry spell.

Near-average temperatures are expected for the next week, with some rain as well.

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