Ponden Reservoir death: Man's body recovered from water

Searches were carried out by the police, fire service, the police helicopter and specialist police divers

A man's body has been found after reports of a swimmer getting into difficulty at a West Yorkshire reservoir.

A major search was started at Ponden Reservoir near Haworth at about 17:50 BST on Tuesday after the man went missing.

Police said the body of a 27-year-old man from Blackpool was recovered just before 22:00 BST.

Officers said their inquiries into the man's death were ongoing.

One eyewitness described how she saw him "floundering" in the water.

Molly and another passing motorist stopped to try and help

Molly said she had been driving by when she and another motorist stopped after noticing someone was in difficulty "about 30ft" out in the reservoir.

She said: "We both jumped out and ran down, we knew not to get into the reservoir but we were on the end if he was able to be pulled out.

"There was a guy who had gone in with a life jacket but the lad had gone under by the time he had got out."

'Extreme dangers'

The force said they had been alerted by the ambulance service and searches were carried out by the police, fire service, the police helicopter and specialist police divers to try and locate the man.

Det Ch Insp Andy Farrell warned people about the dangers of swimming in open water.

He said: "This has been a tragic incident in which a man has lost his life and I would like to remind all residents in and visitors to West Yorkshire of the extreme dangers posed by swimming in or entering open water not designated for such use.

"Such water can be very cold, even in the summer months, and people suddenly entering cold water are susceptible to hyperventilation, which could result in the body going into seizure."

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Earlier this month, 13-year-old Tomi Obi Solomon drowned after jumping into the River Calder at Brighouse.

Samuel Haycock, 16, died after getting into difficulty in Ulley Reservoir in South Yorkshire at the end of May.

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