The heatwave has claimed the lives of two more people cooling off in open water – taking the toll to at least TEN in as many days.
The latest casualties – believed to be a 15 year-old boy and a man in his 40s – drowned in separate lakes at Bawsey Pits quarry nr King’s Lynn in Norfolk.
Their bodies were recovered on Tuesday evening after searches involving police divers, sniffer dogs and an RAF Sea King helicopter.
The growing death list yesterday prompted a warning from the Royal Lifesaving Society.
Chief Executive Di Standley said: “Any drowning is a tragedy but the number of people who have lost their life this month is not only extremely sad but extremely worrying.
“Do not be tempted to cool off in open water, unless it is a supervised area intended for swimming, or an organised event.
“We want people to enjoy water, but safely and sensibly – using their common sense and listening to advice.
“We sincerely hope that this is the last drowning tragedy to take place this summer. Please don’t become a statistic.”
On Monday the bodies of two other swimmers, a man of 52 and a second aged 24, were found in neighbouring reservoirs in the Brecon Beacons in South Wales.
The day before Nathan Lane, 28, disappeared after bravely diving into the Thames at Gravesend, Kent, to save a 12-year-old girl who was safely rescued by others.
Last Friday John Shailes, 27, drowned as he took a late night swim after drinking with friends in Swindon, Wilts.
And last week two swimmers drowned in separate incidents in the same quarry at Malvern, Worcs.
The body of a man in his 20s was pulled from the waters last Friday evening, six days after 17 year-old Russell O’Neill, from Worcester, died in the same water.
The body of another man was also recovered last Friday from the River Severn in Bridgnorth, Shropshire.
Schoolgirl Hollie Jamie-Lee McClymont, 14, drowned when she went swimming in the sea at Barry Island, South Wales on Sunday July 7.
Since Friday many parts of Britain have seen temperatures of more than 30C and the Met Office issued a Level 3 heat health warning across much of England.
Temperatures for the rest of the week are expected to rise even further beyond 32C.
Met Office heat warnings go as high as Level 4, at which even healthy people are at risk although the measure has never been issued.
