A man in his 70s was declared dead at the scene after his body was recovered from the River Fowey by police in Cornwall in what is being treated as a “tragic accident”
The body of a man in his 70s has been recovered from a river in Cornwall in a “tragic accident”.
Emergency services were called out around 4.30pm on Thursday, July 9, following a report of a person seen in the River Fowey and the man was located.
St Austell Police said that a man in his 70s was taken from the water but despite the best efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed and they are being supported by specialist teams with police treating his death as a “tragic accident”.
The tragedy comes amid more scorching temperatures so far this month and a series of deaths from drownings.
A statement from St Austell Police read: “At around 4.35pm yesterday, we were called by Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service following a report of a person in the River Fowey.
“Emergency services recovered a man, aged in his 70s, from the water and attempted life saving measures, but he was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene.
“We believe this incident to have been a tragic accident. His next of kin have been informed are are being supported by specialist teams.”
Three other people have died in the water in recent days. The body of an 18-year-old man was recovered from the water near a weir at the Darley Abbey Mills complex, near Derby, after two teenagers got into difficulty, Derbyshire Constabulary said.
An 18-year-old man died at Dovestone Reservoir, Oldham, on Friday, Greater Manchester Police said.
And the body of a woman was recovered from the Falls of Falloch, a popular beauty spot in Stirling, Scotland, after she got in difficulty in the water on Friday.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland were called to the Falls of Falloch, near Crianlarich, in Stirling, for a report of a woman in difficulty in the water at about 10.45pm on Friday night.
Emergency services attended and water searches were carried out at the site near Loch Lomond. Killin Fire Station said two appliances were mobilised along with Oban and Stirling water rescue units.
Police said a body had been recovered at about 11.45am on Saturday and the woman’s next of kin have been made aware. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Her death is being treated as unexplained, but there are no apparent suspicious circumstances.”
The Mirror has launched the Save Lives For Sam water safety campaign to tackle the UK’s growing drowning crisis. Backed by MPs, Olympic champions, national water safety organisations and bereaved families, the campaign is calling for urgent action to make our waters safer.
That includes compulsory water safety lessons in schools, a nationwide public awareness campaign, better lifesaving equipment at high-risk waterways, the introduction of Sam’s Law, and a dedicated Minister for Water Safety. Find out more about the campaign and how you can support it here.
