Crime & Safety
Open water safety warning after more than 10 UK deaths
Thames Valley Police has issued a new statement (Sunday, May 31) following the deaths of 11 people around the country during the recent heatwave in water-related tragedies.
That includes Baltazar L’Quy, who got into difficulty in the River Thames, close to Donnington Bridge, on Wednesday evening, May 27, before he was pronounced dead.
READ MORE: Floral tributes left near bridge where Oxford teenager died
Tributes were made to the 14-year-old from family members, organisations and emergency services.
Now the police’s South Oxon and Vale of White Horse unit has released some further advice on swimming around rivers and in open water.
A spokesperson said: “With the recent sunshine, we are seeing more people enjoying the River Thames and surrounding waterways across Wallingford, Benson, and nearby areas.
“We want everyone to enjoy the weather safely and be aware of the risks associated with open water.”
They advise people not to jump into water from height as their may be unseen hazards and to take care when swimming as depths can vary and there may be submerged objects or strong currents.
They added: “Sadly, there have been several water-related fatalities across the UK in recent weeks.
“In many cases, cold water shock – a sudden and dangerous response to entering cold water – has been a contributing factor.
“Even during hot weather, river temperatures can remain dangerously low and pose a serious risk to life.”
On this, the force recommended that people enter the water slowly to allow your body to adjust to the temperature and to always stay within your capabilities and avoid taking unnecessary risks.
In addition, you should keep an eye on friends, family, and others around you.
They continued: “If someone is in difficulty in the water, please call 999 immediately and ask for the Fire Service, who are specially trained and equipped to carry out water rescues.
READ MORE: Oxford teenagers swimming in Thames days after boy’s death
“Thames Valley Police may also attend to assist with public safety and to ensure a sterile working environment – meaning a safe and controlled area where emergency services can operate without interference.
“Let’s all take care, look out for one another, and enjoy the warmer weather safely.”
The police are not the only Oxfordshire organisation to have released advice following the recent deaths.
Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service reshared a series of videos, posted in 2022, about the dangers of water and what actions to take if you or someone else fall in or gets into difficulty.
A reported incident at a junction in Witney is causing traffic chaos in the town, with drivers coming off the A40 and elsewhere stuck in long queues.
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An incident occurred in St Aldate’s, outside the entrance to Christ Church Meadows, at about 4pm on Tuesday, June 2.
At least three ambulances were responding to what appeared to be a medical emergency on the pavement.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire footbridge over A-road a collapse risk for years
An individual was scene on a stretcher being cared for by paramedics.
An eyewitness said the incident occurred opposite the Alice Shop, and the medical teams ‘evacuated’ the person.
Apart from the pavement briefly being blocked while the first responders dealt with the emergency, it did not appear to affect traffic or block the road in busy St Aldate’s.
South Central Ambulance Service has been contacted for comment.
Daniel Kaveh, 24, Justin Hughes, 25 and Kailan Chadbone, 20, were each sentenced to years in jail at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, May 29 for supplying and dealing drugs on the streets of Oxford.
Kaveh, of Lambourn Road in Oxford, and Hughes, of Woodperry Road, played ‘significant’ roles in an ‘open line’ class A drugs operation in Blackbird Leys between November 2024 and last November, the court heard.
READ MORE: Woman, 28, ‘beat up’ boy, 14, outside BP petrol station
Kaveh was previously in court in 2021 after pulling out a ‘Rambo’ knife in a stabbing incident in Lambourn Road in Rose Hill in November 2020 which resulted in a 12 month jail sentence suspended for two years.
Between them, they supplied around 4.6kg of crack cocaine and heroin to the drugs line.
Police raids on Hughes’ home also found 232g powder cocaine and 2.338kg of cannabis, for which he was sentenced for possession with intent to supply, along with a quantity of cash, drugs paraphernalia and weapons.
Raids on Kaveh’s property found similar equipment and drugs like heroin and diamorphine, with a total street value of more than £100,000.
It was established the two dealers worked for Emman Riasat, who ran his own drug line in Oxford and wholesale supplied drugs to the line operating out of Blackbird Leys.
Hughes received a jail sentence of six years and nine months for two counts of class A drug supply and two counts of possession, while Kaveh was jailed for seven years and six months for two counts of class A drug supply.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire canal footpath closed due to fallen tree
Also working for Riasat was Chadbone, of Bernwood Road, who worked lower down in the operation as a drugs runner.
He pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and diamorphine between August 1 and November 19, 2025, committed while he was serving a suspended sentence for affray.
Chadbone received a total of 45 months in jail for two counts of drug supply and the breach of a previous suspended sentence.
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