Increase in Fatal Drowning Accidents in France: Urgent Need for Action in Children’s Swimming Education

Paris – 28.05.2026: The number of fatal drowning accidents in France has increased significantly in recent years. According to a report by Santé publique France, a total of 1,418 drowning accidents were recorded between June 1 and September 30 in the summer of 2025, resulting in 409 deaths. This corresponds to an increase of 14 percent in accidents and 16 percent in fatalities compared to the previous year.

Particularly concerning is the number of accidents involving children and adolescents. While adults represent the largest group of those injured at 57 percent, children under six years of age account for 27 percent and the 6- to 17-year-old age group for 16 percent of cases. Despite the higher number of accidents among children, the death rate is significantly higher among adults at 43 percent compared to only six percent among the youngest.

Lazreg Benelhadj, Vice President of the French Swimming Federation, criticizes the current swimming education for children. In an interview with Franceinfo, he emphasized the need to fundamentally revise teaching methods. In his view, the existing measures are insufficient to meet the rising challenges and to particularly improve the safety of the youngest swimmers.

The increase in drowning accidents is also linked to the rise in extreme heat waves during the summer months. Between June 19 and July 8, 2025, 355 accidents were recorded, representing an increase of 135 percent compared to the previous year. The unusually high temperatures encourage many people to increasingly visit natural waters, lakes, and rivers, which raises the risk of drowning accidents.

Against this backdrop, the French Ministries of Health and Sports have intensified their prevention campaigns. The goal is to minimize risks through educational campaigns and increased controls, and to better protect children and adolescents in particular. This also includes promoting safe swimming practices and continuous improvement of swimming education in schools and clubs.

Experts further demand that existing prevention strategies be regularly evaluated and adapted to the changing climatic conditions. Only a comprehensive overhaul of swimming education, combined with effective preventive measures, can contribute to reducing the number of drowning accidents and fatalities in the long term.

Overall, there is an urgent need for action that goes far beyond isolated measures. To increase safety in and around water, swimming lessons, education, and rescue services must be more interconnected and better coordinated. This is especially important for vulnerable groups such as small children, who face higher risks due to insufficient swimming skills and increasing heat stress.