Chiedza Nyanjowa, 15, from Cheshire, died after getting into difficulty while swimming at Formby beach. She was taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in critical condition and died on Saturday. Members of the public tried to help and the family have thanked them and requested prayers. The death is among at least 12 recent water-related fatalities across the UK, prompting safety warnings from the Royal Life Saving Society about cold water shock and how to respond to water emergencies.
15-Year-Old Chiedza Nyanjowa Dies After Swimming Incident at Formby Beach
Chiedza Nyanjowa's family say she "wanted to be a nurse when she grew up so she could give back" [Merseyside Police]
A 15-year-old girl from Cheshire, identified as Chiedza Nyanjowa, has died after getting into difficulty while swimming in the sea at Formby beach on Bank Holiday Monday, Merseyside Police said. She was taken in critical condition to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and died earlier on Saturday.
Emergency services were called to a concern for safety on Albert Road at about 15:30 BST. Members of the public attempted to help Chiedza at the scene before she was transferred to hospital, the force added.
In a tribute, Chiedza’s family said: "She will be greatly missed and remembered for her kind spirit. We are grateful to everyone who helped and are comforted that people were around her to support her — their support shows that she was loved. This is a difficult time for the family, who would appreciate any form of prayer."
The family described Chiedza as a "bubbly person" who loved Christ and attending church. They said she enjoyed cooking, was generous by nature and had aspired to become a nurse so she could give back to others.
Context and Safety Warnings
Chiedza's death is one of at least 12 water-related fatalities reported across the UK during the recent hot weather. Incidents include the discovery of a 12-year-old boy in the River Ribble in Lancashire and the death of a 17-year-old who went missing at Pick Mere lake in Cheshire. Other recent fatalities have occurred in Kent, Oxford, Lincoln, Halifax, Rotherham, Warwickshire, Farnborough and parts of Scotland, as well as a man in his 60s in Cornwall and a woman in her 70s in Wales.
The Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) warned that warmer air temperatures can encourage people to enter open water while water temperatures remain dangerously cold. Cold water shock can make swimming unexpectedly difficult and can hinder a person’s ability to get out of the water.
RLSS Safety Advice: If you see someone in difficulty in the water, call 999 immediately, do not enter the water yourself, and try to throw a flotation aid — for example a life ring, buoyant object, plastic bottle or a football — for the person to hold on to.
Merseyside Police have confirmed the incident and the family's statement; further enquiries are ongoing. The child’s family have expressed thanks to members of the public who assisted at the scene and asked for privacy and prayers while they grieve.
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