A 14-year-old boy is missing and is believed to have drowned after getting into trouble on the River Thames in London on the hottest day of the year.
Four more people have died while swimming in open water during the heat wave while Britain is boiling, with the temperature reaching 38.1 ºC (100.58 ºF) today, the third warmest day on record.
Tomorrow may reach 41 ° C (105.8 ° F).
The UK Health Safety Agency has issued a Level 4 heat health alert, described as a “national emergency”, and the UK is under its first red extreme heat warning for much of England, issued by the Met Office.
Metropolitan police said officers were alerted shortly before 5pm of reports that a child had entered the water on Tagg Island, near Hampton Court, south-west London.
A general search has been carried out involving police, medical staff and fire brigades, as well as members of the public, but their efforts have not been successful, and at 6.40 pm the rescue operation is completed.
“Efforts to recover his body will continue tonight,” Met police said.
The UK records one of the hottest days in history: the last time
Superintendent Richard Smith, of the Southwest Command Unit, said: “Despite the best efforts of all involved, we must now sadly conclude that this child is dead.
“I know that on days like today when temperatures are at a record high, it can seem appealing to jump in and cool off in rivers, reservoirs, lakes or other open waters.
“Please don’t. The dangers are real and this evening in Richmond we saw the terrible consequences of what happens when it goes wrong.”
Meanwhile, the family of a “kind and loving” 13-year-old boy who died after having problems while swimming in a Northumberland river has said it is “absolutely devastated”.
Image: Robert Hattersley died in the River Tyne. Image: Northumbria Police
Robert Hattersley, of Crawcrook, was killed Sunday in an incident on the River Tyne near Ovingham.
His family said: “It is impossible to express in words the lovelessness we are feeling: Robert was so kind and loving. We are absolutely devastated by what has happened.
“He brought a smile to the faces of so many people and will miss him absolutely everyone who knew and loved him.”
Detective Inspector Phil Hughes of Leeds CID said: “This incident serves as a timely reminder of the dangers of swimming in open water.”
In addition, a 16-year-old boy died after getting into trouble today at Bray Lake, near Maidenhead, Berkshire.
Image: A 16-year-old boy has died after having problems in Bray Lake, Berkshire. Photo file
Superintendent Michael Greenwood, the commander of the Windsor and Maidenhead local police area, said it was an “absolute tragedy”.
Emergency services have made urgent calls for people to stay out of dangerous roads and reservoirs.
A 50-year-old man lost his life after getting into trouble at the Ardsley Reservoir, between Leeds and Wakefield. On Sunday a body was found, which was thought to be his.
A 16-year-old boy was killed after he was seen fighting in the water at Salford Quays in Greater Manchester on Saturday.
Temperatures rose to 38.1 degrees Celsius in Santon Downham, Suffolk on Monday and mercury topped 37 degrees Celsius elsewhere.
Rail services were reduced and trains were forced to travel more slowly amid the risk of rail breaks, and people seemed to heed warnings to work from home as traffic, train passengers and the subway they were down the previous Monday.
There are also warnings of pressure on hospitals for extreme temperatures and concerns that ambulance services will face an increasing number of calls as the heat peaks on Tuesday afternoon.
The existing temperature record in the UK of 38.7 ° C (101.7 ° F), which was set in Cambridge in 2019, seems almost certain to fall on Tuesday.
Read more: Tips for staying cool in hot weather What a Level 4 heat wave means for the UK Why UK cities need a radical overhaulWhy climate change will make this heat wave more dangerous
How to stay safe in the heat – official advice
Keep out of the sun between 11 and 15 hours and avoid physical exertion
Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol
Close the curtains in the rooms facing the sun
Never leave anyone in a parked car, and check on large and vulnerable neighbors
Walk in the shade, apply sunscreen and wear a wide-brimmed hat
Check that the medicines can be stored according to the instructions and check that your refrigerators, freezers and fans are working properly.
Wales has provisionally recorded its hottest day on record, with temperatures reaching 37.1 ºC in Hawarden, Flintshire, surpassing the nation’s previous record -35.2 ºC- which was also set in Hawarden, in 1990.
Tuesday is expected to be even hotter in the UK, with temperatures possibly reaching 41 ° C “crazy” in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.