'It's heartbreaking': Mum's tragic warning after two teenagers die in water on hottest day of the year
A mum, whose son died after entering the River Aire in Leeds, has warned others not to risk their lives by going into open water during the heatwave.
A grieving mother whose son drowned after entering a river in Leeds has begged people to put their safety first.
Teacher Lewis Howlett, 25, died after entering the River Aire near Leeds in June 2020.
His mother has spoken out after two teenagers died in Yorkshire over the Bank Holiday weekend.
A 13-year-old boy died after getting into difficulty in Leadbeater Dam near Halifax. The boy, named locally as Reco David-James, was pulled out from the water at 3.18pm on Monday, police said. He was taken to hospital and pronounced dead.
In a separate incident, a teenage boy died at Rother Valley Country Park in South Yorkshire.
Mr Howlett’s mother Joanne said she knows and understands the feelings that the families of those teenagers are going through.
She said: “It’s just heartbreaking and it takes me back, and I know how the families are feeling.
“The pain of losing a child to something that shouldn’t happen is unbearable. It’s just a natural thing to want to do, on a hot day where there’s somewhere to cool down.
“Lewis wasn’t on his own, there were other people swimming that day in the river, he was an intelligent person and he wasn’t a risk taker.
“A lot of people swim in open water, but don’t realise the dangers. The water can look calm, but it’s not calm.”
Ms Howlett believes that more signs should be put near open water sites to warn people of the dangers of swimming.
She said: “There should be more visible signs, there isn’t that kind of education. And there definitely needs to be more places that are safe for kids to swim in.
“Lewis was doing what young people do on a hot sunny day, and that split decision cost him his life.”
The tragedies came as Yorkshire experienced high temperatures across the region, with temperatures hitting over 33 degrees in Leeds.
A spokesperson for the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) said: “RLSS UK’s message to teens, who are at a high risk of drowning, is to Be A Mate and speak up when friends are taking deadly risks around water. In an emergency, call 999 immediately.
"Stay out of the water yourself. Tell them to keep calm, float on their back, and throw something that floats, such as a plastic bottle or football, for them to hold onto and stay afloat while help is on the way.”