Woman's body found in pool in Sandwell Valley Country Park
Six people have now died in water-related incidents during the recent heatwave
Last updated 28th Jun 2026
A woman's body has been found in a pool in Sandwell Valley Country Park.
West Midlands Police were called to reports of a woman missing in the water at around 4.30pm on Saturday 27th June.
Extensive searches were carried out for the woman by specialist teams from fire and rescue where they recovered her body.
Sadly, nothing could be done to save her and she was confirmed dead at the scene.
Officers are supporting her family at this tragic time.
Her death is not being treated as suspicious at this time and police will be liaising with the coroner.
She's the sixth person to die in a water-related incident during this most recent heatwave.
A teenager, two men and a woman died after getting into difficulty swimming in open water.
Brody Leach’s body was recovered from the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, on Saturday morning, West Mercia Police said.
The force said the 22-year-old was last seen alive swimming in the river on Friday when he apparently got into trouble.
Meanwhile, officers searching for a missing 15-year-old boy last seen in the water at Testwood Lakes near Southampton have found a body, Hampshire Police said on Saturday.
“The boy’s family have been informed and formal identification has taken place. His family are being supported by specially-trained officers,” the force added.
Essex Police has also confirmed the death of a 69-year-old man in Clacton.
Officers said they were called to a medical emergency in Marine Parade East at just after 11am on Friday after reports of a man in difficulty in the sea.
The force said: “Officers, paramedics, the fire service and coastguard all attended. Sadly, despite colleagues’ best efforts, a 69-year-old man died at the scene.”
A 50-year-old man was pronounced dead on Wednesday afternoon at Aberavon beach on the south coast of Wales.
Police also said they had recovered the body of a teenage boy from a lake in Syston, Leicestershire, after he went into the water on Thursday.
During the May heatwave, at least 15 people, the majority of whom were children, drowned whilst swimming in open water.
It prompted widespread warnings about the dangers of trying to cool off with a swim in the sea, lake or river, as the water is often much colder than expected and can cause cold water shock syndrome that can prove prove fatal.
Wednesday was the first of three consecutive days in which the hottest June day on record was broken.
Friday was confirmed by the Met Office as the UK’s hottest June day on record, with a provisional temperature of 37.3C recorded in Santon Downham, Suffolk, surpassing the high of 36.7C recorded in Merryfield, Somerset, on Thursday.