A 14-year-old boy has died after he jumped into a no-swim zone of the River Thames to ‘cool off’ during the heatwave.
The teenager entered the water at Millwall Outer Dock in east London yesterday evening as temperatures soared to 30C.
Signs in the area had warned against ‘unauthorised swimming’ and ‘deep water’.
One local dogwalker claimed he saw some children ‘pressuring’ another child to go into the river.
The dock has a deck jutting out into the water which is used as a diving and jumping platform, in spite of the warnings.
Emergency services were called just before 7pm to reports a boy had got into difficulty in the water.
Despite an extensive search effort, the child was retrieved from the river at 10.30pm and pronounced dead.
Detective Superintendent Oliver Richter has urged the public to ‘remember that open water can cause serious dangers as the warm weather continues’.
Signs in the area warn against ‘unauthorised swimming’ and ‘deep water’. A 14-year-old boy has died after he jumped into the no-swim zone of the River Thames
A bunch of flowers left at Millwall Outer Dock, east London following the death of a teenage boy
A crowd is seen gathered at the scene. Emergency services were called just before 7pm to reports a boy had go into difficulty in the water.
The teenager entered the water at Millwall Outer Dock in east London yesterday evening as temperatures reached more than 30C
He said: ‘Our thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of this young boy at this incredibly difficult time.
‘Please only swim in designated areas and take the time to speak with children and young people about staying safe around water.’
The boy’s death is being treated as unexpected but not suspicious with enquiries continuing in order to prepare a report for the coroner.
The London Ambulance Service said: ‘We sent ambulance crews, paramedics in fast response cars, an incident response officer and an advanced paramedic.
‘Our crews assisted our emergency services partners at the scene but were later stood down.’
One local resident, Maria Harris, 48, said she ‘knew the worst had happened’ when police cordoned off the area.
She said the tragedy could have been prevented if security were present – but that wardens paid to patrol the area had been scrapped.
She told the Metro: ‘There were police and all the emergency services on the scene. It’s just heartbreaking.’
Another witness said the boy had been ‘one of a group who have been hanging out by the river all summer’.
Dogwalker Ivan Alexander, who was also near the scene at the time said: ‘We were walking our dog and we saw some kids pressuring another kid to go in the water.
‘These kids are dangerous. For weeks, we have been menaced by them.’
Assistant Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade Patrick Goulbourne said: ‘Sadly, a teenager has drowned following an incident in Blackwall.
‘Firefighters responded to reports of a teenager in the harbour and carried out a full search of the area. Sadly, despite the best efforts of emergency responders, the teenager was later found dead.
‘This is an incredibly sad incident, and the thoughts of everyone at London Fire Brigade are with the family and loved ones at this difficult time.’
