The body of an 18-year-old man was recovered from Dovestone Reservoir in Greater Manchester on Friday evening, as a heatwave continued to push temperatures above 30C across much of England. Emergency services were called to the Oldham site shortly before 7pm, Greater Manchester Police said, and found the teenager unresponsive in the water. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detective Inspector Steven Horton, from GMP’s Oldham district, said: “We have tragically recovered the body of an 18-year-old man from the water and are conducting extensive inquiries to establish the full circumstances. Our thoughts remain with his family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.” He issued a stark warning: “I would like to take this opportunity to remind the public of the dangers of open water. We strongly encourage people to stay safe and refrain from entering large bodies of water including reservoirs, rivers, canals, or ponds. Your safety is our priority. Please look after yourselves and enjoy the weather safely.”
“Police recovered body of 18-year-old from Dovestone Reservoir as heatwave temperatures soared”
The death came as the Met Office said temperatures across England and Wales would continue to exceed 30C on Saturday and Sunday, with amber and yellow heat health alerts in place across large parts of England until Sunday. Met Office deputy chief forecaster David Hayter warned: “Areas of central and southern England and Wales are expected to see several more consecutive days of temperatures above 30C. While temperatures are expected to reach into the low to mid-30s through the weekend, the focus of the heat will gradually shift towards western parts of the UK.” He also noted a possible increase in thunderstorms from Monday in parts of the south, but most areas would remain dry, sunny and very warm.
Police have maintained a scene at the reservoir as inquiries continue into the exact circumstances of the teenager’s death. The tragedy underscores the risks of swimming in open water, where cold water shock can strike even on the hottest days.
