A mother in coma and battling coronavirus has no idea her teenage son drowned in Yorkshire on the hottest day of the year.
Muhammed Bilal Zeb, 18, of Bradford, West Yorkshire, was swimming at the picturesque Linton Falls, near Grassington, when he got into difficulties as temperatures shot to above 30 degrees.
Rescue teams and members of the public attempted to resuscitate Muhammed but he was pronounced dead at the scene, the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA) said.
A spokesperson from North Yorkshire Police said they were contacted at 7.40pm, last Friday, with a report that an 18-year-old man from Bradford was in difficulty in the water at the beauty spot.
They said: ‘Members of the public were reported to be attempting to move the man to safety and providing lifesaving assistance.
‘Officers arrived at the scene at 7.55pm and a local Police Community Support Officer provided CPR until Yorkshire Ambulance paramedics arrived shortly after.
‘Despite the efforts of the emergency services at the scene, the man sadly died.’
A posting on Facebook confirmed that Muhammed was married five weeks ago and added that his mother is in an intensive care unit at a Manchester hospital.
It read: ‘Muhammad Bilal Zeb has sadly passed away by drowning at Linton Falls In the Yorkshire Dales. Bilal got married 5 Weeks Ago.
‘Can you all pray for his mother who is in ICU Manchester due to COVID19 past 3 weeks. She doesn’t even know about her owns sons death.’
Thousands have expressed their condolences to the family following the tragedy.
One person said: ‘He was very nice person. I recorded his wedding movie. I can’t stop my tears.’
Another added: ‘Always sad to hear someone go so soon prayers with family and friends. Rip Billy.’
A spokesman for the UWFRA said: ‘The team were called to an 18-year-old male in difficulty whilst swimming in the River Wharfe at Linton Falls.
‘North Yorkshire Police, Yorkshire Ambulance Service and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service were all on scene.
‘The team co-ordinated the rescue with the fire service. CPR was administered by the rescue services but unfortunately the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
‘Our thoughts are with all those affected by this incident.’