Body of woman found in search for river swimmer

The body of a woman has been recovered from the River Avon near Bath

The body of a woman in her 30s has been recovered in the search for a swimmer who got into difficulty in a river near Bath, police have said.

Emergency services were called at about 19:20 BST on Friday to the River Avon.

Avon and Somerset Police said the woman had been swimming in the water close to the footbridge at Grosvenor Bridge Road.

Avon Fire and Rescue Service and the National Police Air service searched the area and discovered a body at about 20:15 BST, police said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The woman had been swimming in the river near the Grosvenor Bridge Road footbridge

A spokesperson from Avon and Somerset Police said: "The woman's next of kin have been informed.

"Our thoughts are with them following these tragic events.

"A file will be prepared for the coroner in due course, but the circumstances of the woman's death are believed to be non-suspicious."

Two weeks ago a man's body was recovered from the River Avon in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire.

Matthew Crovetto, group manager at Avon Fire and Rescue Service, has advised people to be "mindful of the water".

"The reality is that inland water in the UK is highly dangerous, and if you are not aware of the hazards of that water, or you enter it when you didn't think you were going to, it's really tricky to survive in that space."

He explained that swimming in rivers can be dangerous due to the fact that the water does not warm as much as the water in oceans or pools, which can lead to swimmers experiencing cold water shock.

'Inland rivers in the UK are highly dangerous,' says Matthew Crovetto

"The heat and combination of alcohol is a recipe for disaster and we do tend to struggle with people entering the water that are intoxicated," explained Mr Crovetto.

"Should you find yourself in the water, we suggest that you stay calm and try and float on your back and call for help," he continued.

"By floating on your back, it allows your body to regulate it's temperature and it allows you to conserve energy."

Anyone who spots someone struggling in the water is advised to call 999 and use the app What3Words to pinpoint an exact location.

River safety cabinets are also available around the River Avon in Bath which contain life-buoys and rope.