Response teams busier than usual during heatwave
Pilchardo/Weather WatchersA chief nurse at one of the South West's major hospitals said the past few days have been busier than usual for its response teams.
The Met Office said that Tuesday was the hottest day in May on record for both England and Wales.
With temperatures expected to cool slightly in parts of the South West, people are still being urged to take care when heading to the coast.
At Porthtowan beach in Cornwall alone, there were 84 incidents and two lives saved, according to the RNLI.
Emmie Seward-Evans, from the RNLI, said: "It is cold and right the way throughout the year we rarely get above 15 degrees which is considered cold water around the UK.
"Cold water shock is a real danger throughout the year.
"Especially in the summer when people jump in to cool off, that vast reflex can trigger drowning."
PA MediaDarryn Allcorn, chief nurse at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, said attendances were up by a fifth over the bank holiday weekend, compared to previous years.
"We have seen a real increase in medical emergencies and we have seen more minor injuries and trauma.
"We are up about 20% over this weekend than we would normally see over a May bank holiday over the last few years."
He added: "We are seeing quite a few minor injuries, more in terms of sprains and strains and, unfortunately, with this weather, we have seen a slight increase in trauma.
"With this heat, the challenge we are seeing is with a lot of long-standing medical conditions that don't fair well in hot weather.
"We have seen an increase in a heat stroke and we need to recognise that, in its own right, it is a real medical emergency.
"We haven't seen a real increase in inappropriate attendances, but what we have seen is individuals choosing the right option, so we have seen more individuals attending urgent treatment centres."
On Monday, a man in his 60s died of cardiac arrest after entering the sea at Tregirls Beach, Padstow, Cornwall.
Devon and Cornwall Police said the man who died entered the water to help two family members who were in difficulty.
An amber warning for heat, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), started on Tuesday at 10:00 BST and will remain in place until 17:00 BST on Thursday for Devon and Cornwall.
Records broken
The Met Office confirmed the record for the highest daily minimum temperature in May has provisionally been broken for a third night in a row.
It comes after the mercury did not drop below 21.4C (70F) in Camborne, Cornwall, overnight on Tuesday.
Donkeys at a sanctuary in Penryn, Cornwall, were also spotted tucking into a cold treat throughout the weekend.
The Flicka Foundation Donkey Sanctuary said they prepared tubs of iced carrots and apples for the different groups of donkeys.
The sanctuary family urged people to keep safe in the heat, saying: "Take care in the heat, you and all your family - two-legged and four."
Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said the "exceedingly hot" temperatures were "exceptional".
Mr Burkill added: "It really is an exceptionally warm or very hot spell at the moment.
"For any time of the year, it's hot. But, for May in particular, it is still meteorological spring."
