US officials urge swimmers to be cautious amid surge in drowning deaths

Recent deadly water-related incidents amid heatwave leads National Park Service to issue water-safety reminders As a heatwave continues to bake the western and central US, officials are urging swimmers to be cautious when seeking respite from the summer heat, especially amid a score of recent deadly water-related incidents. Each year, from April to September, drowning deaths rise nationwide, according to 2018-24 data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In June, two college students died after being swept away to sea by turbulent waves on a beach in Santa Cruz, California . Last week, also in California, two brothers were found dead in the Trinity River, a popular rafting destination that has seen several casualties this summer. In southern California, a bodysurfer at Laguna Beach died this week after losing consciousness in the water; officials said he had been observed struggling to stay above water. Earlier this summer, at the same beach, a five-year-old girl was found dead after being engulfed by a wave. Rivers, lakes and oceans can be colder than 80F in the summer, according to the National Park Service (NPS). While it may sound warm, the agency stressed the