Greater Manchester Police recovered the body of a 15-year-old boy from waters near Cowbury Reservoir in Stalybridge on Saturday evening. The incident occurred around 6:30pm after reports of a youngster in difficulty in the water. The boy's death is not being treated as suspicious, but police have issued a stark warning about the dangers of open water.
Seven Drownings During Heatwave
This tragedy adds to a series of water-related fatalities during the current hot weather. At least seven people have drowned across the UK in recent days, following 15 deaths during May's heatwave. Chief Inspector Helen Baxter of Greater Manchester Police described the event as “nothing short of devastating.”
Police Urge Public to Stay Safe
Chief Inspector Baxter stated: “We are confident that there are no suspicious circumstances and that this is such a sad reminder of the dangers of entering open water. We remind the public to please 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.”
Heatwave Subsides
The Met Office's extreme heat warning ended at 9am on Sunday. Temperatures are expected to drop by 5-6°C, with highs of 25-26°C on the eastern coast and mid-to-low 20s elsewhere.
