DLRG June balance: 99 drowning deaths – highest June figure since 2003

A clear accumulation is also evident in the comparison between federal states. North Rhine-Westphalia recorded the most deaths in June with 22 drowning victims, followed by Bavaria with 21. Baden-Württemberg ranked third with 13 drownings – nearly double the previous year's month, when seven people lost their lives.

Baden-Württemberg with a significant increase

In Baden-Württemberg alone, seven people died on a single weekend, all of them men. Of the 13 June victims in the state, eleven were men and two were women, as the DLRG state association announced. Throughout 2024, 43 people drowned in Baden-Württemberg, 36 of them male; just under a quarter of them were between 21 and 30 years old.

The DLRG sees several causes for the high number. Overestimating one's own swimming abilities is among the most common triggers, says Eleonore Wagner, managing director of the DLRG state association Württemberg. In addition, many people can swim poorly. Group dynamics also play a role: "Besonders in Gruppen kann es durch gegenseitiges Aufschaukeln und riskantes Verhalten zu gefährlichen Situationen kommen", Wagner explained.

Causes: overestimation and group dynamics

Psychologist Wolfgang Gaissmaier, professor of social psychology and decision research at the University of Konstanz, sees overestimation as a central factor. "Vermutlich ist es ein Bündel aus Faktoren", he said; at least the willingness to take risks in men decreases again from middle age. Alcohol also reduces inhibitions: "Die Selbstüberschätzung ist dann tendenziell stärker – das sei ähnlich wie beim Autofahren."

Men also frequently underestimate how cold the water is and how stable their circulation is, the DLRG warns. Ludwig Schulz, head of the DLRG state association Baden office, put it this way: "Frauen sind da wirklich vernünftiger und vorsichtiger. Das kann man nicht anders sagen." The consumption of alcohol also further increases the risk.

Vogt made a direct appeal to boys and men: "Wir appellieren deshalb besonders an Jungen und Männer, die eigenen Fähigkeiten realistisch einzuschätzen und auf riskante Aktionen zu verzichten." She emphasized: "Es gibt im Badesee keinen Preis zu gewinnen – aber das Leben zu verlieren." The DLRG advises always supervising children, wearing a life jacket when paddling or surfing, drinking enough, not exposing oneself to the sun too long, and never bathing under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Appeal from the DLRG President

A look at the age structure of the June victims also shows that many young people are affected. 40 of the drowning victims were no older than 30, 35 casualties of known age were over 50. Two seniors also drowned in Lake Constance.

According to its own statements, the DLRG is the largest water rescue organization in the world and has just under 630,000 members. Nationwide, a total of 393 people died in bathing accidents in 2024, 312 of them male – almost 80 percent. In 2025, according to the DLRG, four out of five drowned were male.