For the first time in years, there have been more bathing deaths in Germany. At least 355 people drowned in 2022 – 56 more than the year before. This was announced by the German Life Saving Society (DLRG) on Thursday in Bad Nenndorf, Lower Saxony. "For the first time in four years, we recorded an increase in fatal accidents in the water," said DLRG President Ute Vogt. The association has been presenting the figures annually since 2000 in order to draw attention to dangers.

Compared to the previous year, the number of fatal bathing accidents on rivers, lakes and in the sea increased by almost 19 percent. One reason: "During the long warm summer without significant corona-related restrictions, people went swimming more in mostly unguarded lakes and rivers," said Vogt. Overall, the number is at a low level – compared to the average of the past ten years, there have been 16 percent fewer victims.

According to the data, most people drowned in lakes and rivers and during the bathing season from May to August. At a press conference, DLRG spokesman Achim Wiese warned against bathing in large rivers or quarry lakes, which often dropped steeply. "They wouldn't go for a walk with their family on the A2 on Sunday."

13 people drowned in swimming pools

The number of drownings in swimming pools has also risen from 7 to 13 last year, according to the organization. In the North Sea and Baltic Sea, the number of accidents fell (from 26 to 18). In 65 cases, lifeguards of the DLRG would have saved lives there.

There was an increase in the number of casualties among people between 41 and 50 years of age – from 18 to 40 cases. One reason for this could be overconfidence, said the DLRG spokesman. However, the lifeguards are particularly concerned about children and young people. According to a Forsa survey commissioned by the organization, the number of primary school children who cannot swim increased from 2017 to 2022 percent between 10 and 20.

The lifeguard club again criticized the lack of pools for swimming lessons. In connection with restrictions due to the corona pandemic, this has led to an increase in the number of non-swimmers. In May, the DLRG wants to advertise swimming training with a day of the swimming badge. In many German swimming pools, the badge will then be removed.

Even in people with a poor education or migration background, swimming skills are often worse than in other peers. In addition, most bathing deaths are men - a common cause is recklessness. "Women are often more cautious and level-headed," Wiese said.

Strikingly, in North Rhine-Westphalia and Berlin, the number of drowned people has more than doubled. There was also a significant increase in Lower Saxony. Most bathing deaths were recorded in Bavaria. "There are many lakes where people often go swimming alone," said DLRG spokesman Wiese.