2,887 people succumb to heat in Britain over two months

London, AFP – Two record-breaking heatwaves that struck Britain in May and June claimed the lives of approximately 2,887 people, according to the UK Health Security Agency.

The government body stated that “the estimated figure of 2,887 deaths associated with the two heatwaves during May and June demonstrates the significant impact of these heatwaves on public health, particularly as the deaths were recorded early in the summer season.”

It added that this number is roughly double the total heat-related deaths recorded throughout the entire summer of 2025.

UK Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said in a statement: “For many years, we have been accustomed to the pressures faced by the National Health Service during the winter, but we are now observing that the impact of summer heatwaves is becoming increasingly dangerous to the health of thousands of people.”

She emphasized that rising summer temperatures have become an growing health challenge, adding to the traditional pressures faced by the health system during the winter months.