Tragedy as woman dies after going swimming in river with friends

A woman has died after going missing while swimming with friends in a river. The woman, in her 70s, went into the River Avon in Worcestershire on Wednesday afternoon and the alarm was raised when she couldn’t be found.

West Mercia Police said it was called at 4.50pm to Cropthorne Mill in Fladbury, near Evesham. Officers, alongside crews from Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, rushed to the scene and extensive searches were carried out, including the use of the police helicopter.

Sadly, her body was recovered from the river shortly after 7.30pm. The force said there are no suspicious circumstances following the tragedy.

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It came as the Midlands once again experienced blistering temperatures as the June heatwave continued, amid warnings about the dangers swimming in open water. Superintendent Sue Thomas said: “This is a terribly sad incident and our thoughts are with the woman’s family and friends.

“Extensive searches were carried out in the water and the surrounding area after she was reported missing and we understand that the amount of emergency response may have caused some alarm in the area but we can confirm that the woman’s death is not being treated as suspicious.”

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