A 13‑year‑old girl was pulled from the River Wharfe in the Yorkshire Dales on Sunday evening but later died in hospital despite rapid medical intervention. The incident comes as North Yorkshire Police enter the second day of a search for an 11‑year‑old boy who vanished in South Yorkshire’s River Don on Saturday.

13‑year‑old girl dies after River Wharfe rescue

At approximately 6:30 p.m. on 31 May 2026, emergency services were dispatched to the River Wharfe near Burnsall after a passer‑by reported a teenager struggling in the water. Bystanders managed to pull the girl from the current, and an air ambulance lifted her to a nearby hospital for urgent care, as reported by North Yorkshire Police.

Paramedics and specialist rescue teams attempted resuscitation on‑scene and during transport, but the girl succumbed to her injuries later that night. Police have not released her name, citing privacy concerns for the family.

11‑year‑old boy still missing in River Don search

Police are coordinating a multi‑agency operation to locate an 11‑year‑old boy who entered the River Don at Ferry Boat Lane in Mexborough around 8 p.m. on Saturday. The National Police Air Service, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Services have deployed assets, and a sandbank on the river remains cordoned off.

The boy’s friend raised the alarm after the child disappeared, and officers have been in contact with the family, offering support while the search continues without any confirmed sighting.

15 water deaths in eight days amid record heat

The teenager’s death is the 15th fatality linked to open‑water incidents across the UK in the past eight days, a surge that coincides with a historic heatwave. Rivers,lakes and coastal areas have seen a spike in drownings as people seek relief from record‑breaking temperatures.

Public health officials have warned that rising water temperatures and stronger currents increase the risk of accidental immersion, especially for children and inexperienced swimmers.

Police urge public to stay out of rescue zones

North Yorkshire Police thanked the members of the public who attempted to save the girl but cautioned that untrained individuals can endanger themselves and victims.. In a statement, the force said, “We understand people are desperate to help but, for everyone’s safety, we must ask that only those involved in our operation join the search.”

The appeal underscores a broader concern that well‑meaning bystanders may inadvertently worsen outcomes in fast‑moving water.

Who was the teenage girl?

Authorities have not identified the 13‑year‑old, and no family has been publicly named. the lack of details leaves the community with unanswered questions about her background and the circumstances that led her to the river.

Similarly, the missing boy’s identity has been kept private, limiting public insight into the factors that may have contributed to his disappearance.