Hottest day horror as man, 19, dies after getting into difficulty swimming in Salford Quays in front of shocked onlookers
- Emergency services rushed to scene this afternoon after concerns were raised
- The 19-year-old was pulled from the water three hours after he went missing
- It comes as dozens of swimmers headed to quays to cool off in hot temperatures
A teenager has died after getting into difficulty while swimming in Salford Quays this afternoon.
A huge rescue operation was launched after witnesses reported a 19-year-old man was struggling in the water in Greater Manchester at about 4.40pm.
Dozens of swimmers headed to the quays to cool off as temperatures soared on the hottest day of the year.
Police, fire and ambulance crews rushed to the scene and boats were used to search the quays for the missing teenager.
After hours of searching, Greater Manchester Police confirmed that a man had died.
In a statement, the force said: ‘At about 4.40pm today officers were called over concerns for a man in the water at Salford Quays.
A 19-year-old man has died after getting into difficulty while swimming in Salford Quays
Emergency services rushed to the scene after a man was seen getting into difficult in the water
‘North West Ambulance Service and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service also attended but, sadly, the body of a 19-year-old man was recovered from the water at about 7.40pm.
‘An investigation is under way and a file passed to the coroner.’
Det Insp Helen Bagnall, of GMP’s Trafford district, said: ‘Firstly our thoughts are with this young man’s family and friends, and the people who witnessed the tragic events.
‘Sadly, this proves how dangerous going into unfamiliar water can be, especially when you can’t see below the surface of what could be very cold water.’
Pictures from the scene showed boats and crews in diving gear heading into the water as the search progressed.
Earlier in the day, a warning had been issued about swimming in the quays.
A large cordon was set up at Salford Quays this afternoon as crews worked to rescue the teen
A tent was set up within the police cordon and ambulance crews were also on the scene.
The summer heat tempted dozens of swimmers to cool off in the sea, a lake, or one of Manchester’s numerous canals as temperatures soared.
The Quays were full of swimmers diving in to cool off, but the Canal and Rivers Trust ‘strongly advised’ against going into water, as ‘there are too many risks that you can’t see hidden below the surface’.
The trust said deeper water poses its own serious dangers in rivers and canals, and can be much harder to get out of if you can’t put your feet on the ground.
Rivers, docks, and quays tend to be much deeper than canals.
It warned that even on hot days like today, ‘inland water will be colder than you think’, the trust says, with reservoirs and docks particularly susceptible to cold temperatures as they’re deeper.
Low temperatures can cause the blood to rush away from muscles to protect the organs and limbs and muscles may become fatigued quickly – this can lead to drowning.
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