Sunday, 17 Nov 2024

Twenty die in heatwave with teen boxer latest drowning tragedy

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The Coastguard again issued warnings over swimming in open water after three more people died, including a talented teenage amateur boxer. A Cheshire Police spokeswoman said 16-year-old Frank Varey had been reported missing at about 2.30pm on Thursday after swimming in the river Dee in Chester. After extensive searches his body was pulled from the water shortly before 8pm.

Tributes soon poured in, led by two-time World Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury on his Instagram page.

The young boxer represented England at the 2019 European Junior Championships in Galati, Romania, and had won several national championship titles.

Fury said: “RIP Frank. Was a future world champ.”

Elsewhere, a man in his 30s died after being pulled from the sea at Crantock beach, near Newquay, Cornwall, at 7.30pm on Thursday.

And a father drowned in front of his two children off the Yorkshire coast when all three were swept out to sea by a rip tide.

A quick-thinking holidaymaker launched a drone which spotted the family struggling in the sea at Reighton Gap, four miles south of Filey.

Coastguards described the idrama on Thursday as “horrific”.

The children were plucked from the waves by swimmers but theirfather , 55, ended up deeper out to sea as lifeboat crews raced to the scene.

He was pulled from the water but later pronounced dead.

The emergency services said, in total, the heatwave saw 10 people die at the beach or coast, with a further 10 drowning while swimming in rivers and reservoirs.

A Coastguard spokesman said: “Coastguards across the UK have issued a stark warning to take
care at the coast or risk tragic consequences.”

The Royal Life Saving Society UK also urged caution at rivers or reservoirs. Lee Heard, its charity director, said: “While we recognise how tempting it is to cool off in the UK’s beautiful waterways, they hide hazards that tragically take lives each year.

“We urge the public to use caution when entering the water, getting acclimatised to the water temperature before jumping in.

“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.“

A Met Office spokesman warned that the heatwave would end today with thunder, lightning and torrential downpours “almost anywhere’”.

However, fine conditions are due to return to most areas by the start of August, with the outlook warm and sunny.

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