Eighteen people have now drowned across the UK in just six days after a body was found today in the search for a missing 14-year-old boy last seen swimming near a pier.
Matthew Sherrington vanished last Thursday evening while in the water close to Steetley Pier in Hartlepool, County Durham.
A large scale operation was launched to find the youngster, but the coastguard stood down the following morning amid fears it would have been impossible for him to have survived that long in the North Sea. Police today confirmed a teenage boy's body had been discovered and while formal identification hasn't taken place, Matthew's family have been informed.
The young male is the 18th victim of the recent heatwave, as experts are reminding swimmers how to stay alive in the water.
The RNLI is urging those who choose to take a dip during the hot weather to relax and float on their back if they get into trouble.
Rescuers added that it is in fact often the cold temperature of the water and the sensation of panic which can kill, rather than just simply the depth.
England reached its hottest temperature of the year on Tuesday when 32.2C was recorded at Heathrow Airport in west London, while a provisional all-time record for Northern Ireland was set on Wednesday when 31.3C was logged at Castlederg, Co Tyrone.
Thursday saw a top temperature of 30.7C in England, in Derbyshire, while the mercury hit 31C in Armagh, Northern Ireland, 31.2C in Ceredigion, Wales, and 28.8C in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
Lee Heard, charity director of the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), said: 'Whilst we recognise how tempting it is to cool off in the UK's beautiful waterways, they hide hazards that tragically take lives each year and we urge the public to use caution when entering the water, getting acclimatised to the water temperature before jumping in.
'The difference between the air temperature and water temperature can literally take your breath away; this is called cold water shock. It is silent, invisible and deadly.
'Water can also hide debris, strong currents and sudden changes in depth that can catch out even the strongest swimmers.
'The Royal Life Saving Society UK urge everyone to learn vital skills and knowledge to prevent future accidental drownings.'The warning comes as tributes have been paid to Jay Moffett, who got into trouble after entering a lake in the Canal Court area of Scarva, in County Down, Northern Ireland.
His family said they were 'heartbroken' by the loss, following the tragedy on Monday, which saw rescue teams desperately try to save the youngster.
Meanwhile, three more deaths have been confirmed, including that of a 55-year-old man in County Fermanagh, while bodies were also pulled from Stanborough Lakes in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, and from Ardingly Reservoir in West Sussex.
A statement from Jay's family said: 'He was a much loved son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin who lit up the lives of everyone who knew him in his 13 years.
'We are grateful for the support we have received at this terrible time and would ask that we now be given the space to grieve in private.'
Jay was a pupil Tandragee Junior High School. Principal Wayne Brown said he would be 'deeply missed'.
In a statement released on behalf of the board of governors, staff and pupils, Mr Brown said: 'It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of one of our Year 9 pupils, Jay Moffett.
'Jay's death is particularly poignant. He has always been a popular, helpful and very pleasant pupil and will be deeply missed by pupils and staff.
'Jay was a particularly talented artist, a valued and loyal member of his form class, 9EG, and an exemplary citizen of our school.
'Jay's potential was boundless, he enjoyed school and would have no doubt achieved further success upon completion of study at Key Stage Three.'
The statement continued: 'As a school community we are truly heartbroken and our thoughts, prayers and support are focused on the Moffett family, the extended family circle and Jay's friends at this extremely sad time.'
The schoolboy was also involved in amateur boxing. Tullylish Amateur Boxing Club offered its condolences to the boy's family in a Facebook post.
It said: 'Tullylish ABC are deeply saddened following the tragic and untimely passing of our much loved club member Jay Moffett.
'All of us at the club pass on our sincerest condolences. Rest easy Jay, we will all miss that big smile.'Reverend Rodney Magennis of Loughbrickland, Donaghmore and Scarva Church of Ireland, opened St Matthew's church in Scarva on Monday as a space for people to reflect on the tragedy.
Rev Magennis said: 'As a church in the heart of Scarva village we are deeply saddened by the tragic death of a 13-year-old boy in a local lake.
'We offer to his family and friends our prayerful love and support in the days that are to come.
'It is a tragic event to happen in such a beautiful village and everyone is feeling the shock of it all, so to this end I am opening St. Matthew's Parish Church of Ireland from 3pm until 6pm for anyone who would like somewhere to go, to sit in the quietness and pray for this family who are going through this dreadful time.'
Floral tributes have been left at the scene close to where the teenager entered the lake.
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart said: 'It is devastating news to hear of another family plunged into sorrow after the death of a young teenage boy at the Canal Court area of Scarva village.
'Please remember the family in your prayers as they come to terms with this harrowing tragedy.
'To the emergency services and anyone else who assisted, thank you.'
Meanwhile, another 13-year-old boy is fighting for his life after suffering a stroke at a reservoir while swimming in the sunshine
Cain Griffiths had been playing at a Welsh beauty spot when he suddenly collapsed to the floor.
His brave friends shielded him from the the sun with towels while others ran to call for help.
The youngsters had been enjoying a day out at the reservoir near the village of Maerdy in the Rhondda Valleys, South Wales.
Cain underwent surgery in Bristol Royal Hospital for Children for a blood clot on his brain.
His kindhearted community has now raised over £600 to help mum Gemma Caviell and dad Neil Griffiths.
Friend Karen Jones said: 'Cain was up Maerdy Res at the time and due to the bolders blocking the entrance the ambulance could not get to him.
'In terms of treating a stroke time is of the essence. There is a four hour window which was missed because of this.
'Cain could have died up there. Neil literally drove on a quad to get him. The kids who were with him were absolutely fabulous.
'They put him in the recovery position, they had to run to get signal too cos as anyone who walks there knows there is no signal, they even shielded him with towels from the sun until help arrived.'
Cain was put into an induced coma in hospital but has now woken up.
Mum Gemma said: 'My little cub is awake! We have a hell of a journey in front of us but he's here and that's all that matters right now!
'Thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart for the love and support.'Last night, a lifesaving charity warned the public to 'think before entering the water' after the body of a teenage boy was pulled from the River Trent.
Police divers and firefighters spent Tuesday night and Wednesday morning searching the river in Swarkstone, Derbyshire, before the 16-year-old was tragically found dead just after 11.30am.
The boy's family have been made aware and specially trained officers are liaising with them, but formal identification has not yet taken place.
It comes just hours after another teenager, 15, who died after jumping into a canal with friends in West Yorkshire, was named and pictured for the first time.
Caden Taylor was pronounced dead having failed to surface from the water on Tuesday afternoon - just two months after he lost his mother.
His body was later pulled from the Knottingley and Goole Canal, near its junction with the River Aire, in Knottingley, West Yorkshire, by emergency services following a 90 minute search.
Caden's mother Rachael passed away unexpectedly in May and his family is now having to deal with the double loss.
His stepfather Nathan, who was married to Rachael, passed away following a long illness in 2019.
Caden, who attended De Lacy Academy, was described as 'a lovely lad'.
Following the tragedies, the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS) advised members of the public who aren't experienced in being in cold, open water to 'stay out, unless supervised'.
The RNLI further released new figures showing that 54 children and teenagers were saved by its lifeguards last summer, with 64 per cent being aged 12 or under.
The charity said it responded to 3,981 incidents last month - up from 3,536 in June 2020 - and added that its lifeguards came to the aid of 12,344 under-18s overall between June and September last year.
The last 24 hours has also seen police confirm the death of a man, who has since been named as Hamza Mansoor, after he was swept away while swimming in the sea off the Merseyside coast.
The RLSS UK tweeted: 'A weekend of truly tragic fatal drownings, now rising to an expected 11 lives lost.
'We are urging the public to please think before entering the water. If you aren't experienced in being in cold, open water then please stay out, unless supervised.'
Emergency services including the RNLI and Coastguard all scrambled to Crosby beach in Merseyside just after 7pm last night to reports of a group of men in trouble in the water.
Three of the five men were taken to hospital after the incident, with the other two not needing medical assistance.
Police confirmed that one of the men, Mr Mansoor, has died and a second man is in a critical but stable condition in hospital.
Sefton Coroners confirmed a file had been passed to them for Mr Mansoor and a man who was on the beach at the time of the accident paid tribute to him.
Arslan Arsi said: 'I was there as well met poor family as well still in shock. RIP Hamza you fought hard.'
Beachgoer James Pugh, from Crosby, jumped into the water to help the men who were drowning.
A lady on a paddle board, who James described as 'so brave', was also in the sea helping the men.
James said he was having his tea on the beach with his girlfriend and his two stepchildren last night when he heard shouting from the water at around 7pm.
The 38-year-old said: 'I sprinted down, when I got to the water I noticed lots of splashing from a group of guys but couldn't hear what they were saying.
'There was a lady on a paddle board so I walked further out into the water and shouted 'do they need help?' and she said 'yeah they're drowning'.
'I was still in my work boots and they sank, so I managed to get them off, then swam as fast as I could to paddle board.'
