A 13-year-old girl has tragically died after getting into difficulty in a river, as the water-related death toll during the recent UK heatwave has risen to at least 15. Emergency services are continuing their search for an 11-year-old boy who went missing in another river two days ago.
Incident on the River Wharfe
The girl was pulled from the River Wharfe in Burnsall, near Skipton, North Yorkshire, on Sunday evening. She was airlifted to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead, according to North Yorkshire police.
Julian Smith, the MP for Skipton and Ripon, expressed his gratitude to emergency services and local residents who assisted in the rescue. On Monday, he stated: “This morning all my thoughts, prayers and wishes are with the family of the young girl who died in Burnsall yesterday. I was so sorry and sad to hear this horrific and devastating news.”
Heatwave Death Toll
At least 15 people have died in water-related incidents during the hot spell across the UK, which saw record-high temperatures. South Yorkshire police continued their search on Monday for an 11-year-old boy who entered the River Don on Saturday and has not been seen since. Police were called to the scene in Mexborough at around 8pm on Saturday, and emergency crews from the National Police Air Service, paramedics, and the fire brigade attended.
Statistics on Water-Related Fatalities
According to the charity National Water Safety, 26 people died in water-related accidents in May of last year, slightly lower than the same month in 2024. Water-related fatalities increase during the summer months as more people enter the water. In 2025, there were 202 accidental deaths, down from a high of 315 in 2021. Men in their 60s were more likely to die in water-related accidents than any other group. Inland areas, such as reservoirs and rivers, were linked to more deaths than the sea.
Other Incidents
A 15-year-old girl from Cheshire died in hospital on Saturday after getting into difficulty in the sea off the coast of Merseyside on bank holiday Monday. A woman in her 60s died on Saturday after she and a man attempted to rescue their dog from the sea off the coast of Thornton-Cleveleys. Lancashire police reported that the man, also in his 60s, remains in critical condition in the hospital.
Weather Update
Temperatures dropped on Monday towards the average for this time of year after the heatwave. Forecasters indicated that the first day of June would feel “more like spring or autumn,” with thunderstorms and cooler temperatures expected. The UK recorded its highest ever May temperature for the second consecutive day last Tuesday, as thermometers hit 35.1C at Heathrow and Kew Gardens in west London, according to the Met Office.
Met Office meteorologist Rebecca Mitchell stated that the heatwave is “over.” She added: “Ironically, it’s the first week of meteorological summer starting [on Monday], but it will be feeling much more like spring or autumn and a big contrast to the heatwave.” Forecasters anticipate rain, possible thunderstorms, strengthening winds, and temperatures approximately 14C lower in some places compared to last week.
This article was originally published by The Guardian and has been rewritten for SEO purposes.
