According to the German Life Saving Society (DLRG), at least 261 people have drowned in waterways across Germany within the first seven months of the year. This figure represents an increase of 15 deaths compared to the same period last year.
Fatal accidents saw a significant spike during the summer months, specifically between May and July, accounting for 189 of these deaths. This number is the highest recorded since 2019, when 220 people drowned. DLRG President Ute Vogt highlighted the severity of the situation, stating that “considering just the first three swimming months, there were over 30 more deaths than last year. June, in particular, saw a dramatic increase in accidents. In June alone, there were over 100 victims, last seen in 2003.”
The DLRG determined that 90 percent of all fatalities occurred in freely accessible inland waters. Among lakes and ponds, 118 people drowned, marking an increase of 22. Conversely, the number of victims in streams and rivers decreased by 12 compared to the previous year, reaching 90. Fatalities also increased in canals and the Baltic Sea. Vogt warned that the danger is particularly high in areas where rescue teams cannot intervene quickly.
Another troubling trend noted by the society is the rise in deaths among young people aged 11 to 30, 95 percent of whom were male. Reckless behavior, often linked to alcohol and drug use, is cited as a frequent cause of these accidents.
In absolute numbers, Bavaria has seen the highest number of drownings so far, with 54 victims, three more than in the corresponding period last year. Nordrhein-Westfalen reported an increase of 15 deaths, rising from 35 to 50. Other regions that experienced an increase in casualties include Berlin (+4), Rhineland-Palatinate (+3), Saxony (+6), Saxony-Anhalt (+3), Schleswig-Holstein (+7), and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (+3).
In response, the DLRG is calling for increased investment in swimming instruction and public swimming pool infrastructure. A federal model project is aimed at boosting swimming competence in structurally weaker regions. Vogt concluded that understanding the dangers associated with swimming and bathing is crucial for reducing the number of drowning incidents.
