- "I can only advise against swimming in the river"
Since the beginning of the year, at least 253 people have drowned in Germany - significantly more than in the same period last year. According to the German Lifesaving Association (DLRG), there were 35 fewer drowning deaths in the first seven months of last year.
"If the summer had been more consistent, even more lives would likely have been lost," said DLRG President Ute Vogt. Notably, for the third year in a row, more people died in rivers.
In total, deaths in rivers and lakes, which are usually unsupervised, accounted for two-thirds of fatal accidents. So far this year, 77 people have drowned in lakes, slightly fewer than last year (82). In rivers, 92 people have died, compared to 77 fatal accidents by the end of July 2023. Fourteen people died in streams, compared to 8 last year.
"Flowing waters pose the greatest risks," said Vogt. "I strongly advise against swimming in rivers for most people."
Most are not adequately trained swimmers
Previously, DLRG President Vogt had made it clear: "Most people are not capable of swimming safely in rivers." The reason: They are not adequately trained swimmers. Especially swimming alone in a river is "really very dangerous."
In recent days, swimming accidents in rivers have also kept rescue services busy: On the Rhine at the German-Swiss border, a 29-year-old woman and a teenager have been missing since Sunday - on Wednesday afternoon, a body was washed up, presumably that of the 15-year-old. In Ulm, a 17-year-old died, his body was washed up at a power plant on the Danube. According to police reports, it was a teenager who had been missing since Friday.
Several reasons for the increasing number of drowning deaths
Nationwide, at least 378 people drowned last year - in 2022, there were still 355 fatal drowning accidents. According to DLRG, drowning refers to immersion in or under water, resulting in life-threatening oxygen deficiency. This can happen while conscious or unconscious, for example after a fall or a dive into an underwater obstacle.
According to DLRG, there are several reasons for the increasing number of drownings: Besides water sports and swimming accidents, water rescuers mentioned incidents in flood areas. Moreover, people spend more time and frequently engage in water activities earlier in the year. In April alone, there were 29 drowning deaths - compared to 14 in the same month last year. This suggests that "climate change presents us with new challenges," said Vogt.
More people also died in the sea so far this year - 13, compared to 9 last year. Of the 13 victims, 10 died in the Baltic Sea, 3 in the North Sea. The DLRG attributed the North Sea deaths mainly to boating and sailing accidents.
Among the drowned, men were again predominantly affected - overall, 188 men and 58 women died, with the gender unknown in 7 cases. Almost every third victim - or 64 in absolute numbers - was older than 70, 60 were between 50 and 70. Thus, the number of drowning victims aged over 50 increased by 41 compared to the same period last year. According to DLRG, older swimmers often experience swimming accidents due to pre-existing conditions.
Most people drowned in the first seven months of the year in North Rhine-Westphalia - 42 bathing fatalities were recorded there, compared to 37 in the same period last year. In Bavaria, the number of deaths rose from 33 to 35, in Lower Saxony from 20 to 30, and in Brandenburg from 16 to 21.
Water sports are also not entirely risk-free. Around 20 people drowned from January to July while engaging in activities like stand-up paddling, kitesurfing, or boating - a number that has already surpassed the total for the whole of 2023.
Vogt explained that the victims had one thing in common. They had not been wearing a life jacket. Even good swimmers are not immune to circulatory problems after falling into the water. Additionally, water sports enthusiasts often venture out alone, making it difficult for anyone to assist them in an emergency. "Unfortunately, many people do not think enough about their own safety, do not take precautions, and overestimate their abilities," said Vogt.
"Improving personal safety skills"
So, what can be done? From the perspective of the German Life Saving Association (DLRG), it is clear that people's personal safety skills need to improve. They see schools as the key to achieving this. Stefan Albrecht, president of the DLRG's North Rhine regional association, also advised not to rely on online reviews of bathing spots, but to use common sense instead.
The DLRG claims to be the world's largest voluntary water rescue organization, with around 580,000 members.
Despite the increasing number of drowning deaths due to various reasons such as climate change and water activities, DLRG President Ute Vogt strongly advises against swimming in rivers due to the inherent risks. In recent days, several swimming accidents in rivers have resulted in fatalities, underscoring the need for caution and adequate training.
