Linton Falls drowning victim named as newlywed, 18, whose mother is in a Covid-19 coma

The death of Muhammad Bilab Zeb in the tragic incident during last Friday's hot weather was confirmed by Janaza Announcements, a bereavement service for the Muslim community.

The teenager, known as Bilal, was from the Chellow Heights area of Bradford and had only been married for five weeks.

His funeral took place yesterday with only close family in attendance, but the service was live-streamed to other members of the community.

The Janaza page on Facebook also confirmed that Bilal's mother is currently being treated for Covid-19, and is in a coma in the intensive care unit of an unnamed hospital in Manchester.

"Can you all pray for his mother who is in ICU Manchester due to Covid-19 (for the) past three weeks. She doesn’t even know about her own son's death."

Bilal was swimming in the River Wharfe at Linton Falls when he got into difficulties. Despite a rescue attempt by a police community support officer and mountain rescue volunteers who responded to a 999 call, he was pronounced dead and a file has been passed to the coroner.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service public safety officer Lucy Osborn told the Yorkshire Post that she feared there would be another drowning in the Wharfe this summer due to the large numbers of first-time visitors who had discovered the river during lockdown, yet are unfamiliar with its dangers.

Most swimmers who get into difficulty do so because their body goes into cold water shock - the temperature of the Wharfe is low even in summer. The river is also wide and fast-flowing, with hidden drops and deceptively strong currents, and there are no throwlines or lifebelts on its banks.