Open-water deaths rise to 11 during record May heat in the UK
Eleven people have died after getting into difficulty in open water across the UK during a record late-May heat episode. The fatalities include nine children and two adults. The Met Office said 35.1°C (95.2°F) at Kew Gardens on May 26 provisionally broke the UK May and spring temperature record for the second consecutive day.
Satellite image centered over United Kingdom acquired at 14:20 UTC on May 26, 2026. Credit: EUMETSAT/Meteosat, Zoom Earth, The Watchers
The latest fatality was a 14-year-old boy who died after getting into difficulty in the River Thames at Donnington Bridge on May 27, according to reports on May 28. The deaths were recorded across multiple open-water locations over the past week, including rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and coastal areas, as temperatures exceeded 30°C (86°F) in parts of the country.
The Met Office said the UK May and spring temperature record was provisionally broken for the second consecutive day when Kew Gardens, Greater London, reached 35.1°C (95.2°F) on Tuesday, May 26. That reading surpassed 34.8°C (94.6°F), also recorded at Kew Gardens on Monday, May 25, and the previous May and spring record of 32.8°C (91°F), reached in 1922 and 1944.
Met Office data shows more than a dozen locations exceeded the previous UK May record, 163 observing sites recorded new May daily maximum records, 99 sites recorded their highest May minimum temperatures, and one site stayed above 21.4°C (70.5°F) overnight, marking the first recorded May “tropical night” in the UK.
According to ITV News, the deaths were reported at Swanholme Lakes in Lincolnshire, Leadbeater Dam in West Yorkshire, Rother Valley Country Park in South Yorkshire, Kingsbury Water Park in Warwickshire, the River Ribble in Lancashire, Pickmere Lake in Cheshire, Hawley Lake in Hampshire, Padstow in Cornwall, West Angle Bay beach in Pembrokeshire, Swanscombe in Kent, and the River Thames at Donnington Bridge.
Thames Valley Police confirmed the latest case involved a 14-year-old boy who died after getting into difficulty in the River Thames at Donnington Bridge on May 27.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said amber heat-health alerts were in place for the South West, South East, London, East of England, West Midlands, and East Midlands after the South West alert was escalated on May 26. The agency said North East and North West England remained under yellow alerts, with the alert period extended to 17:00 LT (16:00 UTC) on Thursday, May 28.
While the warmer weather is easing into the weekend, water safety remains a priority in the warmth of the next couple of days that lingers for some.
“It’s important people don’t underestimate the risks associated with entering open water,” said Ashley Jones, Head of Water Safety & Education at Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK). “Even during a heatwave, water will remain dangerously cold, and cold water shock is a very real danger. Sudden immersion can cause an involuntary gasp, rapid breathing, and panic, which can quickly lead to a loss of control in the water – even for strong swimmers.”
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) said average UK and Ireland sea temperatures are about 12°C (53.6°F), while rivers such as the Thames are colder even in summer. Cold-water shock can cause an involuntary gasp, rapid changes in breathing, panic, increased heart rate, and higher blood pressure.
The hazard is expected to ease as air temperatures fall, but water-safety risks can persist after the hottest conditions pass because open water warms more slowly than the surrounding air.
“The widespread heatwave will gradually reduce in intensity in the coming days, with a transition to more unsettled and cooler weather by the weekend for many,” UK Met Office meteorologists said on May 28.
While many areas will see sunny spells through Thursday, there is also the chance of scattered showers and a few thunderstorms as the pattern starts to shift. While thunderstorms remain possible in places, there will be a reduction in the extent of lightning compared to the last couple of days.
From Friday, May 29, temperatures will continue to ease and turn fresher as the hot spell breaks. Most will see a noticeable drop from the hottest conditions of recent days, but still above average for many.
“We’re now starting to see this spell of very hot weather break down. While parts of the southeast could still reach highs of 32°C (89.6°F) on Thursday, many areas will begin to feel fresher conditions moving in through Friday and into the weekend as a weak cold front moves southeast and becomes more established across most of the UK by Saturday,” Met Office, Chief Forecaster Chris Bulmer said.
References:
1 UK May and spring temperature record provisionally broken for second day in a row – UK Met Office – May 26, 2026
2 Heatwave to give way to fresher, more changeable conditions – UK Met Office – May 28, 2026
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