North Yorkshire Police say girl dies after Burnsall rescue
A 13-year-old girl died after being rescued from the River Wharfe near burnsall in the Yorkshire Dales on Sunday evening. She was reported missing at 18:30 BST, found a short time later and pulled from the water.
Members of the public tried to help before she was taken to hospital in an air ambulance. North Yorkshire Police said she later died.
Burnsall rescue
The girl disappeared near a North Yorkshire beauty spot that is also a popular destination for outdoor activities. Burnsall sits in Wharfedale, north of Skipton, and the weekend rescue drew in both emergency services and local residents.
Julian Smith, the MP for Skipton and Ripon, thanked those who took part in the response. On Monday, he wrote: “This morning all my thoughts, prayers and wishes are with the family of the young girl who died in Burnsall yesterday.” He also said: “I was so sorry and sad to hear this horrific and devastating news.”
River Wharfe response
The death came during a period when there had been at least 15 water-related deaths during the recent heatwave. That figure includes a 15-year-old girl from Cheshire who died in hospital on Saturday after getting into difficulty in the sea off the coast of Merseyside on Bank Holiday Monday.
Other separate incidents also continued over the weekend. A woman in her 60s died on Saturday after she and a man got into difficulty after entering the water in Thornton Cleveleys to rescue their dog, while Lancashire Police said the man in his 60s remains in a critical condition in hospital.
Separate searches
In South Yorkshire, emergency crews were called to Ferry Boat Lane in Mexborough at about 20:00 BST on Saturday after reports that an 11-year-old boy had entered the River Don and had not been seen getting out. South Yorkshire Police said extensive searches by specialist officers, an underwater search team and Mountain Rescue volunteers resumed at first light on Monday.
Police said the boy’s family was being supported. The River Don search is separate from the Burnsall death, but it shows how quickly river incidents can turn into major rescue operations across the region.
