Two drown in rivers over the weekend

An eight-year-old boy drowned while celebrating his birthday with friends and family at a beauty spot on Saturday. On the same day, a father died while trying to rescue his young daughter from a river.

Aaron Page, from Pontefract, was found dead after he was swept away in a river near Bolton Abbey in North Yorkshire at around 3pm.

Police and cave rescue services searched for the boy, along with firefighters and underwater search teams. His body was recovered more than three hours later.

Inspector Kevin Franks of North Yorkshire Police said Aaron was seen splashing about in the water but then began to struggle. "This was a happy family day out to celebrate a birthday at a local beauty spot ... and unfortunately this young boy has got into difficulty in an area of water."

The officer added: "Despite efforts from members of the public, and some quite sterling efforts from the emergency services and everyone else there, sadly we've been unable to bring him out alive."

Inspector Mike Woodhall, from Harrogate Police, said the tragedy highlighted the dangers of swimming in rivers. "No matter how safe a river seems, sometimes there are inherent dangers," he said.

In Wales, a father died while trying to rescue his daughter from the river near Plas Llwyngwern, Pantperthog, in Machynlleth, Powys. The man is understood to have run into difficulties while trying to help the child, who fell into water on Saturday afternoon, Dyfed Powys Police said.

The child was rescued from the river, but her father died. Officers have since begun an investigation into the circumstances of the death, which is not believed to be suspicious.