Body of missing boy, 15, found in reservoir

Published28 June 2026

The body of a 15-year-old boy has been recovered from a reservoir.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said it had been looking for the teenager after receiving reports he had got into difficulty at 18:30 BST on Saturday at Cowbury Reservoir in Stalybridge, Tameside.

A force spokesperson said the body had been found in the water later that evening, adding formal identification had taken place and his family had been informed.

Elsewhere in Greater Manchester, a search continues for another boy. Police said he got into difficulty in the River Irwell in Clifton Country Park, Salford, on Saturday afternoon.

GMP said the boy missing in Salford had last been seen shortly before 17:00.

A force spokesperson said officers were called to reports of a boy "getting into difficulty".

The spokesperson added: "Emergency services and specialist search teams remain at the scene. The incident is ongoing."

No further details about the boy, including his age, have been released.

Speaking about the Tameside body discovery, Ch Insp Helen Baxter said it was "nothing short of devastating and my thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the young boy who sadly lost his life in such awful circumstances".

She added: "We are confident that there are no suspicious circumstances and that this is such a sad reminder of the dangers of entering open water.

"We remind the public to please avoid being tempted to cool off in reservoirs, rivers, canals or ponds.

"We all want to enjoy the warm weather; please make sure you do so in a safe way."

There have been several disappearances and deaths in water during this summer's hot weather.

Police recovered the body on Saturday of a 15-year-old boy who went missing after swimming at Testwood Lakes nature reserve, near Totton, Hampshire, while 22-year-old Brody Leach died after he got into difficulty in the River Severn in the early hours of Friday morning.

A man died at a beach in Essex on Friday, while on Wednesday, a 50-year-old man was pronounced dead at Aberavon beach after getting into difficulty while swimming in the sea off the south coast of Wales.

Several people died during a previous hot spell in May, including 12-year-old Junior Slater, who died after getting into difficulty in the River Ribble, in Lancashire, a17-year-old David Tita Jr,

Meanwhile, up to 20 teenagers were rescued from choppy seas off the Lancashire coast.

HM Coastguard said the children were helped on Friday evening in Fleetwood after they got into difficulty in rough seas "a significant distance out from the sea wall".

Get in touch

Tell us which stories we should cover in Greater Manchester

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, external, X, external, and Instagram, external. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

Related topics

Salford

Stalybridge

More like this story

'This is why rivers and lakes are so dangerous to swim in'

• Published28 May

'This is why rivers and lakes are so dangerous to swim in'

Published28 May

River death teenager 'was popular student'

• Published3 June 2020

River death teenager 'was popular student'

Published3 June 2020

Related links

Greater Manchester Police

Greater Manchester Police