A man who died saving his family members after they got into difficulty in the water at a Cornish beach is a local grandfather, the Daily Mail can reveal. 

The 68-year-old bravely entered the sea at Tregirls Beach near Padstow in an attempt to rescue his struggling relatives.

Tragically, the man, who is understood to be a local builder, suffered a ‘cardiac arrest at sea’ and was pronounced dead at the scene.

His family members were brought to safety by members of the public.

Thousands of Brits flocked to beaches and popular swimming spots over the bank holiday weekend as temperatures reached record heights for the time of year.

Tuesday saw the hottest day in May on record as temperatures reached 35.1C at Kew Gardens in London.

However, tragedy struck as five teenagers also died in separate water-related incidents across the country over the weekend.

The deaths of four boys and a girl were confirmed by police forces in Lincolnshire, Lancashire, West and South Yorkshire, as well as Warwickshire. 

The grandfather died after entering the sea at Tregirls beach near Padstow, Cornwall

Sunbathers gather on Gyllyngvase Beach, in Falmouth, Cornwall, on bank holiday Monday

Reco Puttock, 13, died in hospital after being pulled from the water at Leadbeater Dam, a popular swimming spot in Halifax, West Yorkshire, at around 3.20pm on Monday.

The teenager was rushed to hospital but sadly died despite the efforts of paramedics.

Just hours later, the body of a girl, believed to be 16, was recovered from a lake at a country park in Warwickshire.

South Yorkshire Police also responded to reports that a teenage boy had gone into the lake at Rother Valley County Park in Rotherham and had not re-emerged. 

Emergency services recovered his body in the early hours of Monday morning.

On Tuesday, the body of a 12-year-old boy was then pulled from a river in Lancashire. 

And on Sunday, police confirmed that 15-year-old Declan Sawyer drowned at Swanholme Lakes in Lincoln at around 2.30pm. 

The parents of Reco, who died after entering the water in Halifax, have paid tribute to their son, describing him as close to his three sisters and ‘especially with his big sister’.

His mother, Sam Puttock, told the Telegraph and Argus: ‘He loved being out with his friends. That’s what he enjoyed most.

‘I don’t know what to feel, I think I’ve just cried and cried since about 7am this morning… I don’t think I can bring myself to any more at the minute.’

Declan Sawyer’s father, Carl, warned other parents to educate their children on the dangers relating to bodies of water while issuing a touching tribute to his son.

Carl described the 15-year-old as ‘very much loved by his friends and family, and will be missed dearly by many’.

‘With his tragic and unexpected passing on Sunday at Swanholme Lakes, we would like to raise awareness about children playing near any rivers or lakes in the hot weather,’ he said.

‘Please can all parents, friends and family make their children aware of the dangers surrounding water.’

Beachgoers enjoy the cool water at the very hot weather in Margate on Monday

Reco Puttock was rushed to hospital after being pulled from Leadbeater Dam in Halifax

The deaths came a day after 15-year-old Declan Sawyer drowned at Swanholme Lakes in Lincoln

In Warwickshire, the 16-year-old girl’s body was recovered by specialist police teams at around 7.20pm on Monday. 

Her father was ‘frantically’ seen searching the riverbank by onlookers, who said he entered the body of water in a bid to find his child.

Floral tributes were laid at the scene for the victim, named only as Lil.

Speaking at the scene, Chief Inspector Ben Hembry, North Warwickshire Area Commander, said: ‘We were called at around 6pm to reports of youths in the water.

‘One was in particular difficulty. When we arrived it was identified a female teenager had gone missing underwater.

‘A multi-agency response of police, ambulance and fire all attended as well as a range of support from the park to do an extensive search.

‘I believe she was a local girl and this is an area frequented by young people in hot weather.

‘We are desperate to get the message across for people to stay out of open bodies of water.’

When asked about youths jumping off the bridge, he added: ‘Across open water where there is the opportunity for young people to do this these practices do take place.

‘And I believe that is part of what took place here on Monday.’

A family member at the scene said: ‘We don’t know exactly what happened yet.

‘There was some people seen jumping off the bridge but she wasn’t.

‘There was a young boy her age who jumped in to try and save her at the time. He’s the unsung hero, please let the police just do their job as speculation doesn’t help.

‘She wasn’t able to swim so she was never going to jump off a bridge into the water.

‘All an officer told me is that “I know it’s of limited comfort but she didn’t suffer, it was instant” so there has been an incident.’

Experts have warned about the dangers of some swimming spots, which become popular during hot weather. 

Lifeguard rescues more than doubled last year, according to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

Ashley Jones, Head of Water Safety & Education at Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), said: ‘We’re urging the public to choose lifeguarded locations wherever possible, where safety measures and supervision are in place.

‘If you are spending time near water with children, always supervise them closely, keep them within arm’s reach, and consider dressing them in brightly coloured swimwear to improve visibility.

‘Open water environments are very different from controlled swimming areas. There may be hidden hazards beneath the surface, strong currents, and colder temperatures that can seriously affect your ability to swim. It’s vital to respect your limits, avoid swimming alone, and talk to your family about water safety before you visit.

‘If you see someone in trouble, don’t be tempted to enter the water to rescue them. Instead, call 999, encourage them to float on their back, and throw something that floats to assist them. Taking simple precautions can help prevent tragedies and ensure everyone stays safe while enjoying the water during warmer weather.’

Elsewhere, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service warned people about the dangers of entering open water as the weather continues to warm up.

‘The weather is warming up and you might be tempted to cool off in water, but danger could be lurking under the surface,’ they said.

‘Even on warm days, the water can still be very cold and cold water shock is highly dangerous.

‘We experience an increase in call-outs to water-related incidents in the summer months. Please help us to keep you safe and avoid entering bodies of water.’