Water-safety warning after nine people die during heatwave

People have been urged to take precautions near water after at least nine people, mostly children, died in water-related incidents during the heat wave over the bank holiday weekend.

The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) issued a warning following the deaths, saying "warmer weather unfortunately sees an increase in accidental drownings".

It warned water temperatures remain very cold despite increased air temperatures, and that cold water shock could make swimming difficult and harder to get out of the water.

In all during the hotter weather, at least six young people have died in the water, as well as a man in his 60s and a woman in her 70s.

• On Bank Holiday Monday, a 13-year-old boy named locally as Reco Puttock was pronounced dead after being pulled from Leadbeater Dam in Halifax, West Yorkshire; the body of a teenage girl was recovered from Kingsbury Water Park, Warwickshire; and the body of a teenage boy was recovered from a lake in Rother Valley Country Park in Rotherham, South Yorkshire

• Also on Monday, a man in his 60s died after running into the sea to help two relatives who had got into difficulty at Tregirls Beach near Padstow, Cornwall, police said

• At Swanholme Lakes in Lincoln, Declan Sawyer, 15, was found dead after emergency crews were called to reports of him getting into difficulty at about 14:30 on Sunday

• On Wednesday, Cheshire police found a body in Pickmere Lake during the search for a 17-year-old boy who went missing after swimming at the beauty spot

Wednesday brings a reprieve from the record-breaking temperatures, as cooler air moves over northern and eastern areas of England.

A leading network for drowning prevention has recommended swimming in supervised locations with lifeguards where possible and entering the water slowly to reduce the risk of cold-water shock.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Wednesday morning, Jim Bridge from Water Safety Partnership urged those who find themselves in difficulty in the water to "float to live".

"So lie on your back with you head back, with your ears submerged, use your arms and legs to stabilise yourself and just let your breathing come back to a normal breathing pattern.

"And when you're feeling confident that you've gotten used to the water and your breathing's normal, you can shout for help or swim to save yourself."