A 23-year-old man has drowned in the River Thames after going for a dip with friends.
Police have located a body following a major search operation for the swimmer, known only as William, who disappeared last night from an Oxfordshire lock.
The case is the latest in a series of water-related incidents after a 15-year-old boy died at the River Kelvin in Glasgow and a 63-year-old woman fell near Campsie Glen waterfall in Dunbartonshire.
It is believed William and a group of friends had decided to cool off by jumping in the river but soon got into difficulties.
Friends desperately dried to pull the young man out from the water but were unable to and emergency services were called to the scene.
A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said today: ‘Specialist teams are searching for a man who was reported to have entered the water last night at Buscot Lock, near Faringdon, Oxfordshire.
‘A call was received by Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service at just after 9.10pm last night to reports that the 23-year-old man, William, had got into difficulty in the water in the River Thames.
‘We immediately responded, with search and rescue teams attending the scene within minutes, including the National Police Air Service, specialist search teams (POLSA), search dogs and Oxfordshire Lowland Search & Rescue.’
A major search operation was launched for the missing man, known only as William, who disappeared from an Oxfordshire lock last night
On Scotland’s second hottest day in two years, emergency services launched a rescue operation this week on the River Kelvin (pictured) and later recovered a body of a 15-year-old boy
Temporary Chief Superintendent Lis Knight said: ‘Searches have been underway for William since last night but despite these extensive and thorough searches of the water and the river banks, we have, as yet, not been able to locate him.
‘Officers from our POLSA search team are continuing the search today.
‘What we have been able to ascertain was that William was with a group of friends at Buscot Lock and entered the water yesterday before getting into difficulty. Friends have tried to retrieve him from the water but were unable to do so.
‘William’s next of kin are aware and are being offered support at this extremely distressing time and my thoughts are with them all. We will continue our search for William until we have located him.’
On Scotland’s second hottest day in two years, emergency services launched a rescue operation this week on the River Kelvin and later recovered a body of a 15-year-old boy.
His death is understood to be accidental. A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘Emergency services attended and around 23:30 the body of a male was recovered from the water.
‘Inquiries are ongoing, however, the death is not being treated as suspicious.’
Hours earlier, a 63-year-old woman fell near Campsie Glen waterfall in East Dunbartonshire.
A 63-year-old woman fell near Campsie Glen waterfall in East Dunbartonshire the same die a 15-year-old drowned in Scotland
Two fire engines and two water rescue teams were sent out but she died at the scene.
Police Scotland said the death was not being treated as suspicious.
A temperature of 32C has only been recorded on six previous occasions in Scotland since 1961.
Earlier this month the body of a teenage boy was pulled from a river in Suffolk after he entered the water with friends.
And a couple of weeks before that a 20-year-old son was found dead in the river Tees in County Durham having got into difficulty in the water.
The air ambulance, mountain rescue crews, police helicopter, paramedics and fire crews all rushed to the rural village Darlington in a bid to rescue him.
Drones and rescue dogs were also used in the search.
But tragically, Durham Police later confirmed they had found a body.
It is believed William and a group of friends had decided to cool off by jumping in the river but soon got into difficulties. Pictured: Buscot Lock in Oxfordshire
Many drowning deaths have involved everyday activities like walking or running near water, suggesting dozens of those who have lost their lives in water had not intended to enter it.
Professor Mike Tipton, chairman of the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF), said: ‘Each one of these fatalities represents a tragedy.
‘Drowning can occur anywhere and to anyone, so I urge the public to learn about water safety and how to prevent themselves and others from drowning.
‘A small amount of time devoted to drowning prevention could save many lives.’
Prof Tipton has urged people to visit the NWST’s online Respect the Water campaign for ‘simple, life-saving advice’ in the event of an emergency.
