DLRG: At Least 26 Men and Boys Die in Swimming Accidents During a Heat Weekend

The toll from the weekend goes far beyond the drowning deaths. The Saxon state capital Dresden recorded 318 fire department operations, the busiest day of the year; the Cologne fire brigade was operating at its capacity limit, according to the city. On the A2 between Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt, there were several partial closures because the heated asphalt caused the surface to burst open – so-called blow-ups. In eastern Saxony, the temperature in Kubschütz climbed to 29.4 degrees.

Injured and Missing

In addition to the deaths, there were severe injuries: A 15-year-old jumped into a quarry lake in Meißenheim, Baden-Württemberg, and sustained at least serious injuries. In Peine, Lower Saxony, emergency services pulled a 17-year-old lifeless from a lake; he could not be resuscitated.

The DLRG has warned for years that many adults misjudge their own swimming abilities. Particularly when jumping into unknown bodies of water – such as quarry lakes or river sections – there is danger to life due to unpredictable water depths, currents, or obstacles drifting beneath the surface.

Why Men Are Particularly at Risk

In addition to the heat, parts of the infrastructure suffered under the extreme temperatures. In Germany, there are around 600,000 transformer or substations; through them, electrical energy is stepped down from the medium-voltage grid to 230 or 400 volts. During the sustained heat, fires broke out at substations in several regions, causing power outages.

The total number of at least 26 drowning deaths in a single weekend illustrates the scale of what occurred. According to the DLRG, the victims are men and boys of different ages; the society also spoke of missing persons whose fate was still unclear.

Infrastructure Under Pressure

The lifeguards advise swimming only at supervised bathing areas and paying particular attention to children and young people during heat. Alcohol, overexertion, and overestimating one's own strength increase the risk of getting into distress in rivers, lakes, or the sea, according to the organization.

Police and rescue services were in continuous operation over the weekend. At many lakes and rivers, DLRG emergency teams patrolled with boats in order to be able to rescue swimmers quickly if they got into trouble. Nevertheless, staffing was not sufficient to monitor all locations simultaneously.

The DLRG is calling for an expansion of swimming instruction in schools and more public education about the dangers of swimming during heat. Vogt pointed to the age structure of the victims and emphasized that many men believe they can swim even though their technique is inadequate.

Weather services expect temperatures to decline slightly in the coming days but to remain above average. According to the rescue organizations' assessment, the danger situation at bodies of water therefore remains high.

Hospitals also prepared for an increase in heat-related emergencies. In addition to drowning accidents, heat strokes, circulatory collapses, and cardiovascular problems are among the typical emergency scenarios during such weather conditions.

Appeal from the Lifeguards

Regional authorities called on bathers to observe designated closures and read warning signs. Additional rescue posts were set up in several federal states to shorten response times.

The DLRG pointed out that the drowning deaths are distributed across the entire federal territory – from Lower Saxony via North Rhine-Westphalia to Saxony and Baden-Württemberg. Lakes and river sections without official swimming supervision were particularly affected.

Initial analyses indicate that several victims entered the water in unsupervised areas. Added to this was the tempting effect of the heat, which led people to cool off without considering the risks.

For the coming weeks, the DLRG announced intensified prevention campaigns. Schools, swimming clubs, and municipalities are to educate about the dangers of swimming during extreme temperatures, according to the organization.

The authorities are asking relatives and eyewitnesses who can help clarify the individual accidents to contact the local police. Relatives of missing persons received psychological support via the DLRG hotlines.

Overall, the weekend illustrates how strongly heat periods can affect the safety of the population – not only in road traffic or through fires, but especially at and in the water.

The DLRG emphasized in conclusion that many deaths would have been avoidable if those affected had heeded known warnings. Swimming courses, the wearing of flotation aids, and bathing in supervised areas are the most effective means of permanently reducing the number of drowning deaths.