Bodies of boys aged 14 and 15 have been found in separate tragedies - bringing the total number of deaths to 11 - as the pressure grows on the government to place water education on the curriculum17:39, 28 May 2026Two more teenage boys have tragically drowned after getting into trouble while outdoor swimming — bringing the total number of deaths in the current heatwave to 11.‌The body of a boy, 15, was recovered from a pond in Swanscombe, Kent, and a 14-year-old boy died in the River Thames in Oxford. The Royal Life Saving Society has issued a plea for everyone to “stop and think” before getting into open water as temperatures this week soared to 35C.‌It warned warmer weather correlates to an increase in “accidental drownings” and that despite warmer air, “water temperatures remain very cold”.‌Police, fire and ambulance services were called to the River Thames near Donnington Bridge, Oxford, at around 5.30pm on Wednesday. Thames Valley Police confirmed that the boy’s family have been informed and his death was being treated as “unexplained but not suspicious”.On the same day in Kent, emergency services were called to an incident involving “concern for a person in water” in Swanscombe, Dartford, just before 3pm. The young lad’s body was sadly recovered at the scene.‌A fresh heat health alert has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency for parts of England, as officials warn of a greater risk of water-related deaths. The yellow alert started at 4pm on Thursday and runs to 8pm on Saturday for eastern and south-east England and London. The UKHSA said it means water-related incidents could increase including risks from cold-water shock and drowning.Helen Marney, Director of Community Participation at Swim England, said: “It is heartbreaking to hear about the recent tragic incidents across the country. Our thoughts at Swim England are with the families and communities affected."These events are a stark reminder of the dangers open water can pose, particularly during periods of hot weather when more people are tempted to enter rivers, lakes and reservoirs, sometimes without always fully understanding the risks.‌"We would encourage people considering getting in the water to cool down, particularly less experienced water users, to visit a managed venue or lifeguarded site for the safest experience."Learning to swim is a vital life skill, but it must go hand in hand with water safety education. Knowing how to float, how to stay calm, and understanding hazards such as cold-water shock, strong currents and unseen obstacles can make the difference between life and death."We encourage parents, schools and communities to prioritise both swimming lessons and water safety awareness for young people. Equipping children with these skills early on helps them enjoy water safely.‌"No one should underestimate the power of the water — and by improving education and awareness, we can help prevent further tragedies.”The deaths follow a series of fatalities resulting from open water swimming during the record-breaking heatwave.‌On Sunday Declan Sawyer, 15, died after getting into trouble at Swanholme Lakes, Lincoln. Also on Sunday, a 72-year-old woman died after being pulled from the water at West Angle Bay beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales, at around 3.15pm.A 13-year-old boy, Reco Puttock, died after getting into difficulty at Leadbeater Dam, near Halifax, West Yorkshire, on Monday, while the body of a teenage girl was recovered from the water at Kingsbury Water Park, Warwickshire.‌On the same day, Phil Crow, 68, died of cardiac arrest after entering the sea at Tregirls Beach, Padstow, to help two family members who were in difficulty, Devon and Cornwall Police said.The body of a teenager was recovered from the water at Rother Valley Country Park, Rotherham, South Yorks, in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Another body was found in the search for a teenage boy who went missing after he was last seen swimming at Hawley Lake on the Hampshire/Surrey border on Tuesday afternoon.And a 12-year-old boy who died after getting into trouble in the River Ribble at Ribchester, Lancashire, on Tuesday was named as Junior Slater from Clayton-le-Woods. On Wednesday, Cheshire Police said the body of a 17-year-old boy had been found after he went missing in Pickmere Lake at Marston, Northwich.‌The Royal National Lifeboat Institution recommends swimming in supervised locations with lifeguards where possible and entering the water slowly to reduce the risk of cold-water shock. Cold-water shock is an involuntary physiological response when the body is suddenly immersed in water.They say anything below 15C is defined as cold water, and average UK and Ireland sea temperatures are 12C, and some rivers can be colder even in summer.‌Hot weather is expected to continue over the coming days, before easing over the weekend, the Met Office said.Many areas have experienced thunderstorms, with Met spokeswoman Nicola Maxey saying they came as “very warm and unstable conditions” developed, adding: “These brought localised heavy downpours and frequent lightning. As is typical with thunderstorms, impacts varied over short distances, with some areas seeing intense rainfall while others nearby remained largely dry."Since Tuesday, more than 85,000 lightning strikes have been recorded across the UK, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.Article continues belowMs Maxey said: “Looking ahead, the recent very hot conditions are expected to ease through the rest of the week, with a shift towards more changeable weather and a reduced risk of widespread thunderstorms. A band of rain is forecast to move eastwards across the UK over the weekend, bringing fresher conditions along with a mix of showers and brighter spells. Temperatures will return closer to seasonal average values, feeling less hot for many.”Meanwhile, more than 25,000 households in the South East are without water as the heatwave continues. South East Water customers across Kent and East Sussex have no running water or very low pressure as the record temperatures continue.A banner message on the SEW website says: “We're sorry to customers with water supply issues today. This is caused by high demand for water. Please use water wisely to ensure there is enough water for everyone.”