Yesterday was a big day for the UK, as they enjoyed their hottest day in 12 years. I know we Brits are often the butt of jokes when it comes to our definition of a heatwave, and not undeservedly so – when the thermometer hits 20C and there’s a hint of sun, (i.e. your standard Cape Town winter’s day) you’ll see most of us prancing around in bikinis and takkies.   So when temperatures go above 35C, as they did yesterday, that can only mean one thing. Mass meltdown.

Schools cancelled sporting events amid fears the children would not be sufficiently hydrated, supermarkets took chilled food off their shelves amid fears the fridges couldn’t keep it, well, chilled. And as Stuff reported, this poor Wimbledon ballboy suffered probably one of the most embarrassing moments of his young teenage life when he collapsed in the middle of a game and had to be stretchered off.

As you can see from this photo, he was not a happy chappy.

Thankfully, he made a swift recovery. To be fair, he wasn’t the only one who succumbed to the heat, as Aussie player Bernard Tomic also needed to be treated for dizziness. I’ve never been to Australia but I’m pretty sure Australians are no strangers to a hot day or two, so it must have been pretty challenging out there.

Even Djokovic said:

On this warm day, it’s good to spend a little bit less time [playing] than maybe what is possible.”

Thanks for that tip.

On another note, I had to share this photo of one spectator’s ingenious ‘Cousin It’ approach to sun protection, courtesy of the Daily Mail.

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Hopefully the heat will ease up and everyone will keep their strength up with some obligatory champers, strawberries & cream.

[sources: Stuff and The Daily Mail]