England heat deaths near record as summer peaks

England is on track for its deadliest summer on record due to heat, new official data shows. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) estimates that 2,877 people died during heatwaves in May and June. That is nearly double the number recorded during the same period last year. The current record for heat-related deaths in a single summer stands at 2,985, set in 2022. August, typically England’s hottest month, has not yet arrived. Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “My thoughts are with all those who have lost loved ones as a result of the long and intense heatwaves.”