FORMBY — Chiedza Nyanjowa, a 15-year-old from Cheshire, died in hospital on Saturday after getting into difficulty while swimming at Formby beach in Merseyside on bank holiday Monday. She was taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital following the incident.

Members of the public attempted to assist Chiedza at the beach before emergency services arrived. A report into her death has been passed to the Sefton coroner’s office.

Chiedza’s family described her as a bubbly person who loved Christ and going to church. They said she loved cooking and wanted to become a nurse so she could give back, calling her a natural giver. The family added that she will be greatly missed and remembered for her kind spirit.

Her family expressed gratitude to everyone who helped her during the incident. They said they were glad people were around to support her and that their actions demonstrated how loved she was.

Chiedza’s death marked the 13th fatal water-related incident during the recent spell of hot weather across the UK. The high temperatures drew large numbers of people to open water, leading to drownings in South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Cornwall, Hampshire, Warwickshire, Cheshire, Pembrokeshire, Lincolnshire, and Lancashire over recent days.

The Royal Life Saving Society issued a warning that despite high air temperatures, water temperatures remained very cold. The organization noted that cold water shock can make swimming difficult and impair a person’s ability to get out of the water. It advised that anyone who sees someone in trouble in the water should call 999, avoid entering the water themselves, and throw a floating object—such as a plastic water bottle or football—for the person to hold on to.