AN 18-year-old Bradford man has died after getting into difficulty while swimming in a Dales river on the UK’s hottest day of the year.

According to posters on social media the man is believed to have been married just weeks ago.

He is thought to be from the BD9 area of the city

Emergency services were called to the Linton Falls beauty spot, on the River Wharfe, near Grassington, at around 7.44pm on Friday.

Rescue teams attempted to resuscitate the man but he was pronounced dead at the scene, the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA) said.

A spokesperson from North Yorkshire Police said they were contacted at 7.40pm on Friday with a report that an 18-year-old man from Bradford was in difficulty in the water at the beauty spot.

They said: “Members of the public were reported to be attempting to move the man to safety and providing lifesaving assistance.

“Officers arrived at the scene at 7.55pm and a local Police Community Support Officer provided CPR until Yorkshire Ambulance paramedics arrived shortly after. Despite the efforts of the emergency services at the scene, the man sadly died.

“A file has been prepared and passed to the Coroner.”

A spokesman for the UWFRA said: “The team were called to an 18-year-old male in difficulty whilst swimming in the River Wharfe at Linton Falls.

“North Yorkshire Police, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service were all on scene.

“The team co-ordinated the rescue with the fire service. CPR was administered by the rescue services but unfortunately the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Our thoughts are with all those affected by this incident.”

The spokesman said 14 team members attended the two-and-a-half-hour rescue attempt.

On Monday several families were enjoying the sun on the banks of the Wharfe at the popular picnicking site.

Many young children were playing in the river which just had one small sign warning of the dangers of drowning nailed to a tree.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said three crews, from Grassington, Skipton and Lofthouse, and a water rescue team from Ripon were called to a report of a man in the water.

Friday’s temperatures - which reached 37.8C (100F) at London’s Heathrow Airport at 2.41pm - made it the third hottest UK day on record.

And the Coastguard reported its busiest day for more than four years, as it dealt with more than 300 incidents.

Warnings were issued on social media about the dangers of water following the death of the teenager.

Martyn Hughes, a watch manager with North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, tweeted: “Despite frantic efforts by many, we were unable to save the young man.

"Thoughts very much with family and friends. Sadly another water-related death at one of our natural beauty spots.”

And Grassington Fire Station wrote: “The falls and river at Grassington through to Linton and Burnsall is beautiful, it can be tempting on hot days to take a dip, but please beware of the hidden dangers in moving cold water.”

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Following the tragic death of an 18-year-old man at Linton Falls in Grassington on Friday, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding people of the dangers of open water.

“We hope that our safety advice will reach people across York and North Yorkshire, and those from neighbouring areas who may be visiting the county over the summer months.

“We know that open waters, such as lakes, rivers and reservoirs can look tempting places to cool off especially on hot days but they can contain many hidden dangers. There may be vegetation or objects that you could tangled up in making it hard to get out. The temperature of the water is also likely to be much colder than you expect. This can lead to cold water shock, which can cause hyperventilation and breathing difficulties.

“If people get into difficult in open water they should aim to float on their back, as highlighted by the Royal National Life Saving Institute #FloatToLive campaign https://rnli.org/pages/ppc/beach-safety/beach-safe-float?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt9_elf3-6gIV2-vtCh2pqQP9EAAYASAAEgIEYfD_BwE.

If you see someone in difficulty in the water:

• call 999 and ask for the fire service inland or the Coast Guard at the coast.

• see if there is any safety equipment nearby that you can throw to them.

• don’t be tempted to enter the water yourself.