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The boy, named locally as Reco Puttock, died after getting into difficulty at Leadbeater Dam, near Halifax, West Yorkshire amid a wave of teenage deaths over the weekend

A distraught father has begged the "two lads" who tried to save his teenage son from drowning to come forward.

Alan Damon Robinson wants to meet the strangers and shake their hands for their valiant attempt to rescue his son, who is understood to be Reco Puttock. The 13-year-old boy died after getting into difficulty at Leadbeater Dam, near Halifax, West Yorkshire amid the scorching heatwave.

Mr Robinson, thought to be from Bradford, posted on Facebook: "To the lads that jumped in please message me so I can come down and shake your hands, like no joke put the message out. I want the two men or boys to message me. You tried, I need to shake your hands needed heads all over (sic) just message that's all I ask."

Reco was one of several young people to die in water tragedies in the UK over the weekend, during which temperatures exceeded 38C. The RNLI had, just last week, shared a grim warning for young people to take care at the coast.

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Flowers have been left beside Leadbeater Dam with messages such as "RIP Reco. Miss you millions" and "RIP Reco. You will be forever missed". The teen drowned in front of dozens of onlookers at the popular swimming spot.

His mother paid tribute to her son, describing him as close to his three sisters and "especially with his big sister". The mum 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."

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: "At 3.18pm yesterday (25 May) police were called to Leadbeater Dam on Lumb Lane, Halifax to reports a teenage boy was in difficulty in the water.

"The body of a 13-year-old boy was pulled from the water. He was taken to hospital and was sadly pronounced dead. Enquiries are ongoing by Calderdale CID, however there aren’t believed to be any suspicious circumstances."

A man in his 60s also died during the record-breaking heatwave. He tried to save two family members who got into difficulty in the water at a beach in Padstow, Cornwall, around 3.50pm on bank holiday Monday.

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