A 25 year old man died in the River Aire last night (Saturday, May 30), police have confirmed.
The man was with a friend in Kirkstall when he decided to swim at around 8.30pm, but he vanished beneath the surface and failed to emerge, leading his friend to call police.
The police and fire service arrived on the scene for a large scale search and rescue operation, and they recovered his body in the early hours of Sunday morning. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and his family have been informed.
Yesterday, LeedsLive reported how a young girl was saved from drowning after deciding to swim in a Tingley reservoir. Following this, police released a statement reminding people not to swim in these open waters.
Chief Inspector Allan Raw of Leeds District Police said: “This incident serves as a stark reminder of the very real dangers of swimming or playing in open water, no matter how tempting it may appear in warm weather.
“Water such as reservoirs or lagoons can be very cold, even in the summer months, and people suddenly entering cold water are susceptible to hyperventilation, which could result in the body going into seizure.
“There can also be hidden currents and unseen dangers such as mud banks or items under the water which a swimmer can become caught on.
“As inviting as the water can look, it simply isn’t worth the risk.”
