A 22-year-old man’s body was retrieved from a river following an incident during the recent heatwave. Brody Leach’s body was found in the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire by West Mercia Police. This marks the second fatality linked to water activities during the heatwave, characterized by unusually high temperatures for June.

Authorities cordoned off a section of the riverside for search operations, which has now been reopened after the recovery. The man encountered difficulties after entering the river on Friday.

In a separate incident, a 50-year-old man lost his life at Aberavon beach in Wales due to swimming-related complications. Emergency services responded to the distress call, but the man, identified as a resident of Cilfrew, Neath Port Talbot, succumbed despite CPR efforts. The authorities ruled out any foul play in his demise.

During a previous heatwave in May, approximately 15 individuals, mostly children, drowned while swimming in open waters. This tragic trend led to widespread warnings about the risks associated with open water swimming, including the potential dangers of cold water shock syndrome, often underestimated by swimmers and resulting in fatal consequences.

The recent heatwave set new temperature records, with the UK experiencing its hottest June day ever on Friday, recording 37.3C in Santon Downham, Suffolk. The Met Office confirmed this surpassing the previous record of 36.7C in Merryfield, Somerset. The Mirror has initiated the Save Lives For Sam campaign to address the increasing drowning incidents in the UK, advocating for measures like mandatory water safety education in schools, a national awareness campaign, improved lifesaving equipment at high-risk water areas, the implementation of Sam’s Law, and the appointment of a dedicated Minister for Water Safety. Support for the campaign and additional details can be found on the Mirror’s website.