Hampshire Police launched a search at Testwood Lakes after a 15-year-old boy went missing following a swim near Totton. The site was closed and people were told to avoid the area while emergency services continued their search.
Emergency services had been attending Testwood Lakes in Hampshire since about 13:45 GMT, and police deployed marine units to help. The National Police Air Service, South Central Ambulance Service and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire Service were also sent to the scene.
Testwood Lakes closure
Testwood Lakes said it was “extremely concerned” to hear of the “serious incident” and said Hampshire & Isle of Wight Police had confirmed that a multi-agency operation was under way after a report that the boy was missing after he was last seen swimming at the reserve.
The reserve then closed “until further notice,” and the site asked members of the public to avoid the area at this time. Testwood Lakes is owned by Southern Water and managed on the ground by Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.
Hannah Walsh at the scene
reporter Hannah Walsh said the road into Testwood Lakes was closed with a police closure sign and cones in place. She also said two search and rescue units had arrived after the first wave of emergency service vehicles had left.
Walsh said: “A number of cars have pulled up to collect people - possibly at the lakes before it was evacuated - and many of them have been sat opposite the lake entrance on a grass area in the shade, trying to stay cool.”
Southern Water response
A Southern Water spokesman said the company was aware of the “ongoing multi-agency emergency response at Testwood Lakes following reports of a missing young person.” The spokesman added: “Our thoughts are with the boy's family and friends at this deeply worrying time.”
The incident came as temperatures in Gosport, Hampshire, reached 36.1C, breaking the provisional record for the hottest ever June day in the UK. The search was still under way as the scene continued to change, with police, air, ambulance and fire teams still working around the closed reserve.
