Welsh Water issues warning amid heatwave

Welsh Water is warning the public to stay out of reservoirs during the hot weather . The organisation has issued the caution during a half-term break which has seen crowds pack beauty spots across Wales, including parks, beaches and reservoirs, amid a record-breaking heatwave. Wales experienced its hottest May day ever on Tuesday as temperatures climbed to a scorching 32.9C in Cardiff . The hot weather has attracted many to open water swimming, resulting in 10 deaths across the UK since the heatwave began, including one in Wales. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter Ahead of the heatwave, Public Health Wales cautioned people of the dangers of heading into bodies of water to cool off. It said "cold water shock" is a particular danger, with water temperatures much lower than air temperatures at this time of year. As a result of the weather, Welsh Water is reminding the public that reservoirs can be extremely dangerous, despite appearing calm and safe. The water company said that reservoirs can contain hidden hazards including very cold water, deep and steep-sided banks, strong currents, underwater machinery and sudden drops. The warning comes after 10 people have lost their lives in the water during the heatwave across the UK. On Sunday, a 72-year-old woman died after being pulled from the water at West Angle Bay beach in Pembrokeshire . Declan Sawyer, 15, died after getting into trouble at Swanholme Lakes, Lincoln, on Sunday. A 13-year-old boy died after getting into difficulty at Leadbeater Dam, near Halifax, West Yorkshire, on Monday, while the body of a teenage girl was recovered from the water at Kingsbury Water Park, Warwickshire. The same day, a man in his 60s died of cardiac arrest after entering the sea at Tregirls Beach, Padstow, to help two family members who were in difficulty, Devon and Cornwall Police said. The body of a teenager was recovered from the water at Rother Valley Country Park, Rotherham, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, South Yorkshire Police said. Another body has been found in the search for a teenage boy who went missing after he was last seen swimming at Hawley Lake on the Hampshire/Surrey border on Tuesday afternoon. A 12-year-old boy who died after getting into trouble in the River Ribble at Ribchester, Lancashire, on Tuesday was named as Junior Slater from Clayton-le-Woods. Cheshire Police said the body of a 17-year-old boy was found after he went missing in Pickmere Lake in Northwich. The body of a teenage boy who died while swimming in a pond in Swanscombe, Kent, on Wednesday has also been recovered. Welsh Water warned the public that unauthorised swimming in reservoirs can put lives at risk — both for those entering the water and anyone attempting a rescue. It said that its reservoirs are "operational sites and are not designed for recreational swimming." Organised open water swimming is only permitted at approved Welsh Water visitor attraction sites, where activities are carefully managed and supervised by qualified lifeguards. Welsh Water’s Rangers regularly patrol reservoir sites to help keep visitors safe and discourage people from entering the water, with additional patrols taking place over the school half-term period. Owain Manuel, Head Ranger at Welsh Water’s Lisvane and Llanishen Reservoirs Visitor Centre said: “We know many people will be looking to enjoy the outdoors during the half-term holidays, especially with the warmer weather forecast. “While reservoirs can look inviting in hot weather, they are extremely dangerous places to swim. Cold water shock, hidden hazards and the difficulty of rescue can turn a day out into an emergency in seconds. “We’re asking everyone to stay out of the water, follow safety signage and help us keep visitors safe this summer.” Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here . We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice