Two teenagers die in open water during heatwave

Two teenagers have died in open water during the latest heatwave.

Police were called to an incident at Dovestone Reservoir, Oldham, at around 7pm on Friday.

They found a man, 18, who was unresponsive in the water. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he was pronounced dead at the scene, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said in a statement.

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 enquiries to establish the full circumstances.

"Our thoughts remain with his family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.

"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."

Derbyshire Constabulary announced on Friday that the body of an 18-year-old man had been recovered from the water near the weir at the Darley Abbey Mills complex after two teenagers got into difficulty.

The county's fire and rescue service said it responded to a call at 12.46pm. The operation included water rescue units and specialist trained police divers, with police confirming the recovery of the body at 7.45pm.

Group manager at Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service, Louise Dempsey, said: "Derbyshire has numerous open water sites, including quarries, reservoirs, lakes, and rivers.

"They all have hidden dangers, including strong currents, and hidden debris which could cause entrapment.

"If you do enter open water and get into difficulty, use the 'Float to Live' technique, lay on your back, put your arms and legs out and float, this will allow you to calm your breathing, gain control and either call for help, or swim to safety."

The two incidents are just the latest in a spate of open water deaths this summer during successive heatwaves.

Read more from Sky News:
Temperatures hit 35C or above on six separate days
Man wanted over UK murders arrested in South Africa

The UK Health Security Agency has warned of a potential increase in water-related incidents, including risks from cold water shock and drowning, as the hot weather continues.

During the May heatwave, at least 15 people, mostly children, drowned while swimming in open water.

Forecasters have said areas of England and Wales will continue to exceed 30C throughout the weekend, and into next week, as it was announced that 2026 had become the first year to record temperatures of 35C on six separate days.

(c) Sky News 2026: Two teenagers die in open water during heatwave