Doncaster Council working on tribute to 11 year old Mackenzie Swift who drowned in heatwave
11-year-old Mackenzie died after entering the River Don during the record-breaking heatwave at the end of May 2026.
The City of Doncaster Council has revealed it is working on a tribute to a young boy who drowned in a river.
11-year-old Mackenzie died after entering the River Don during the record-breaking heatwave at the end of May 2026.
Councillor Sue Farmer, cabinet member for children, young people and families at Doncaster Council, said: “This council is deeply saddened by the recent wave of water-related fatalities across the UK.
“The community in Mexborough were devastated at the end of May when 11-year-old schoolboy Mackenzie Swift tragically drowned… We are liaising with the family of Mackenzie in relation to a suitable tribute or place of remembrance.”
Coun Farmer said she believed local councils, schools and public services “require stronger national support, guidance and legislation” to raise awareness about open water safety risks.
She added: “This tragic, avoidable loss of life serves as a stark reminder that our current approach to water safety is a national crisis and we must act with urgency to prevent further heartbreak in our communities.
“We particularly wish to acknowledge and commend the tireless work of ‘Sam’s Army’ in raising critical awareness of water safety and campaigning for these vital changes at a local and national level.”
Sam’s Army Mission is a Rotherham-based charity set up by the family of Sam Haycock, who drowned in Ulley Reservoir in 2021 whilst celebrating the end of his GCSE exams.
The charity recently partnered with the Daily Mirror for the ‘Save Lives for Sam’ campaign.