Teenager, 18, dies while swimming at beauty spot
The man got into difficulty at Linton Falls, on the River Wharfe, in North Yorkshire, as temperatures soared on Friday.
An 18-year-old man died after getting into difficulty while swimming in a river on the UK’s hottest day of the year, rescue services said.
Emergency services were called to Linton Falls, on the River Wharfe, near Grassington, North Yorkshire, at around 7.44pm on Friday.
Rescue teams attempted to resuscitate the man but he was pronounced dead at the scene, the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA) said.
A spokesman for the UWFRA said: “The team were called to an 18-year-old male in difficulty whilst swimming in the River Wharfe at Linton Falls.
“North Yorkshire Police, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service were all on scene.
“The team co-ordinated the rescue with the fire service. CPR was administered by the rescue services but unfortunately the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
“Our thoughts are with all those affected by this incident.”
The spokesman said 14 team members attended the two-and-a-half-hour rescue attempt.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said three crews, from Grassington, Skipton and Lofthouse, and a water rescue team from Ripon were called to a report of a man in the water.
Friday’s temperatures – which reached 37.8C (100F) at London’s Heathrow Airport at 2.41pm – made it the third hottest UK day on record.
And the Coastguard reported its busiest day for more than four years, as it dealt with more than 300 incidents.
Warnings were issued on social media about the dangers of water following the death of the teenager.
Martyn Hughes, a watch manager with North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, tweeted: “Despite frantic efforts by many, we were unable to save the young man. Thoughts very much with family and friends. Sadly another water-related death at one of our natural beauty spots.”
And Grassington Fire Station wrote: “The falls and river at Grassington through to Linton and Burnsall is beautiful, it can be tempting on hot days to take a dip, but please beware of the hidden dangers in moving cold water.”
