PARIS (AP) — Europe faces intense and unusual heat that is setting new temperature records, including a dramatic rise in the United Kingdom on Monday. Authorities issued warnings following deaths at amateur sporting events in France.
French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari extended condolences to the family of a runner who died in a Paris race on Sunday. Le Parisien newspaper detailed that the 53-year-old man suffered a cardiac arrest in the capital’s 20th arrondissement, and attempts by firefighters to revive him were unsuccessful.
The direct cause of the runner’s death is still under investigation, but Ferrari noted a potential connection to the heat. She stated in a post, “The events today (Sunday) during running races are a reminder that practicing sports in extreme heat requires absolute vigilance.” Ferrari expressed sympathy for the runner’s family and others assisted by emergency services.
In another incident in Lyon, local media Actu Lyon reported on Monday the death of a woman from heat stroke during a sports competition, also on Sunday.
Meteo France, the national weather service, reported record-breaking temperatures for May, surpassing 30 C (86 F) in numerous regions. This trend is predicted to persist throughout the week.
The United Kingdom experienced a record-setting temperature for May, reaching 33.5 C (92.3 F) at London’s Heathrow Airport on Monday, surpassing the previous records of 32.8 C (91.4 F) set in 1922 and equaled in 1944. With the heatwave affecting several parts of the country, residents and tourists sought relief in beaches, parks, and shaded areas.
The U.K. Health Security Agency issued the first amber health alert of the year, highlighting the risk of increased mortality, especially among elderly individuals during peak heat periods.
The frequency of such extreme weather events is escalating as Earth’s warming progresses. Experts assert that unusual and potentially deadly weather extremes, occurring sometimes at unexpected times and locations, are placing more people at risk.
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