Full Breakdown
13-Year-Old Drowns at Leadbeater Dam Amid Record Heatwave
5/27/2026, 1:40:54 AM
Incident at Leadbeater Dam
The 13-year-old boy, locally identified as Reco Puttock (also reported as Reco David-James), entered the water at Leadbeater Dam on Lumb Lane, Halifax, West Yorkshire, on Monday 25 May. Police were alerted at 15:18 BST; he was pulled from the reservoir, taken to hospital and later pronounced dead.
Heatwave Context and Related Fatalities
The drowning occurred during the UK’s hottest May day, with Kew Gardens reaching 34.8 °C and forecasts up to 36 °C, prompting amber and yellow heat alerts. In the same period, a 15-year-old died at Swanholme Lakes (Lincoln), another 15-year-old was recovered from a lake near Lincoln, a teenage girl died at Kingsbury Water Park (Warwickshire), a teenage boy was found in Rother Valley Country Park (South Yorkshire), and a man in his 60s died after a cardiac arrest on Tregirls Beach (Cornwall).
Timeline
15:18 BST – West Yorkshire Police receive a call reporting a teenager in difficulty at Leadbeater Dam.
15:20 BST – Police helicopter and water-rescue teams arrive.
15:30 BST – The boy is recovered and transferred to ambulance services.
16:00 BST – He reaches hospital and is later pronounced dead.
Emergency Response and Official Statements
West Yorkshire Police, Calderdale CID, fire and rescue, ambulance crews, water-rescue specialists and a police helicopter carried out a coordinated rescue. Police said the boy was pulled from the water, taken to hospital and pronounced dead, with no suspicious circumstances identified. The Royal Life Saving Society warned that warm weather increases accidental drowning risk, that cold-water shock can impair swimming, and advised callers to dial 999, avoid entering the water and throw a floating aid. The victim’s mother described him as a sociable, determined teenager who loved friends and family.
Criticism and Water-Safety Calls
Simon Haycock, whose son died in a South Yorkshire reservoir, called the deaths “totally unnecessary” and “totally preventable”, highlighting the lack of lifeguards at many open-water sites. He urged the public to recognise cold-shock risks and avoid swimming in unsupervised reservoirs, especially during heat alerts.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Rest in peace Reco. Thinking of your family.” — Lauren Robinson, Friend
- “ Amy Heaton wrote: "RIP Reco, such a pleasant young lad!” — Amy Heaton, Friend
- “ ? Irfan Anjum said: "Absolutely heart-breaking news.” — Irfan Anjum, Commenter
- “Speaking to the Telegraph & Argus this afternoon, his mother, Sam Puttock, has paid a heartfelt tribute to her son, remembering him as a sociable and determined young boy who loved spending time with friends and family.” — Sam Puttock, Mother
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the victim’s name: the Daily Star and Manchester Evening News use Reco Puttock, while the BBC calls him Reco David-James. One article misspells the site as “Leadbeater Damon”. Reported rescue times range from 15:18 BST to “around 3.18 pm”. Reliability scores for the sources vary between 34 % and 44 %.
What’s Next
The Royal Life Saving Society will intensify its water-safety campaign ahead of further heat alerts, and Calderdale CID continues its investigation while urging the public not to speculate. Local authorities are reviewing safety signage at open-water sites.
