Teenager drowns off Lancashire pier as hot weather ends

A 19-year-old man has become the latest person to die after swimming in open water as England’s hot weather came to an end.

Lancashire Constabulary said in a statement emergency services including the coastguard were called to St Annes Pier in Lancashire about 7.20pm on Friday to reports of a person drowning in the Ribble Estuary.

The teenager was rescued from the water and taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, but unfortunately died a short time later.

It followed the death earlier in the day of a 16-year-old boy after he got into difficulty swimming in Loch Lomond.

As temperatures soared this week charities issued warnings about the dangers of open water, with the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) saying it was aware of 17 incidents of accidental loss of life in the water between July 17 and July 20.

All of the incidents occurred in England, apart from one in Northern Ireland.

The total was added to on Thursday evening when a 16-year-old boy’s body was found in the River Dee in Chester, with a Cheshire Police spokeswoman saying: “Sadly, this is the second river death that we have seen this week in the county.

“This appears to be another tragic accident and our thoughts are with the boy’s family at this very difficult time.”

Predicted thunderstorms are likely to keep most people out of the water over the weekend.

A thunderstorm warning is in place until 10pm on Saturday, with the possibility of heavy rain that could cause disruption and flooding.