The body of a 15-year-old boy has been found after he disappeared while swimming in a lake during the hottest day of the year.
After receiving the agreement of his family to identify him publicly, the police have confirmed that the boy who died was Declan Sawyer.
Emergency services were called to Swanholme Lakes at around 2.30pm on Sunday following reports that the 15-year-old had got into difficulty in the water.
Police had launched a major search operation and previously said an underwater search team would assist in locating him.
Lincolnshire Police said in a statement on Sunday night: ‘We can update that our dive team have sadly found a body in the water at Swanholme Lakes, Lincoln.
‘With agreement from the family we can share that the boy who died is 15-year-old Declan Sawyer.
‘Our thoughts are with his family and we send our condolences at this incredibly difficult time.
‘This is such a sad incident that will no doubt also affect many of Declan’s friends and the local community as well.
‘As we are starting half-term week, we ask our community to make sure that anyone affected is looked after and that people are encouraged to seek help and support where they need it.
Lincolnshire Police said in a statement on Sunday afternoon: ‘Despite the very best efforts of people at the lake and the emergency services who arrived on scene, the boy has not yet been located.
Swanholme Lakes is a nature reserve about three miles from Lincoln city centre
‘We continue to search the lake and our underwater search team will be assisting with this.
‘We have informed the family of the boy and our thoughts are with them at this incredibly difficult time.’
The force warned against speculation about the incident and said information that the boy had been found was wrong.
Swanholme Lakes is a local nature reserve and a nationally recognised Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Sunday was provisionally the UK’s hottest May day in 79 years, with temperatures reaching 32.3C at Kew Gardens in London as Britain sweltered through an unseasonably early heatwave.
In Lincoln, the temperature on Sunday was about 25C, according to the Met Office.
Monday is expected to be even hotter, with forecasters warning temperatures could climb to 34C or higher across parts of southern England and potentially break the long-standing UK May temperature record of 32.8C.
Heatwave conditions have already been recorded in several parts of England after areas exceeded local temperature thresholds for three consecutive days.
The Met Office said the hot spell has been driven by a strengthening area of high pressure, bringing settled, dry and sunny weather across much of the country.
Health officials have urged people to take precautions as crowds head outdoors during the Bank Holiday, with amber heat-health alerts remaining in place for parts of England amid concerns over risks to vulnerable people.
Scientists have also warned that climate change is making extreme spring temperatures more likely, with unusually hot May weather becoming increasingly frequent.
