Teenager drowns in 'whirlpool' as friends take dip in hot weather

Firefighters and police officers were called to the large lake off Manvers Way in Wath-upon-Dearne at about 12.20pm.

Two teenage boys had to be rescued by a fire service boat from an island in the middle of the lake, and the third boy was pulled from the water by police divers.

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said: "Paramedics worked on the male and he was taken to Sheffield Children's Hospital where he was pronounced dead at about 2.20pm."

Police said the teenager was from Rawmarsh and was thought to be in his mid-teens.

Eyewitnesses said two or three boys swam out to an island in the lake - but one was then caught by a "whirlpool" and sucked down under the water.

One youth swam back to the shore to raise the alarm to a woman cycling by the edge of the water, who called the ambulance service.

An eyewitness said: "The lad who swam back was shouting 'get an ambulance' and a woman rider called one.

"It seems they were sucked into some kind of whirlpool and pulled under."

Manvers Way is closed and more than 20 emergency services vehicles attended.

Two police helicopters, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, and an inflatable boat were involved in the search along with a dozen police officers, eight police cars, two ambulances and two fire engines.

Organisers of the Dearne Valley Triathlon, taking place on Sunday say the competition will still go ahead - the lake is the centre point of the contest which involves running, swimming and biking.