Increase in fatal drowning accidents in France: Urgent need for swimming education for children

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 during the summer of 2025 between June 1 and September 30, of which 409 people lost their lives. This corresponds to an increase in the number of accidents by 14 percent and in the number of deaths by 16 percent compared to the previous year.

The number of accidents involving children and youth is particularly worrying. While adults make up the largest group of injured persons with 57 percent, children under six years of age account for 27 percent and the age group from 6 to 17 years accounts for 16 percent of the cases. Despite the higher number of accidents among children, the mortality rate among adults is significantly higher at 43 percent than among the youngest, who are recorded at six percent.

Lazreg Benelhadj, vice chairman of the French Swimming Federation, criticizes the current swimming education for children. In an interview with Franceinfo, he emphasized the need to thoroughly revise the teaching methods. According to him, the measures taken so far are not sufficient to meet the increasing challenges and especially to improve the safety of the youngest swimmers.

The increase in drowning accidents is also linked to the rise of extreme heatwaves in the summer months. Between June 19 and July 8, 2025, 355 accidents were registered, representing an increase of 135 percent compared to the previous year. The exceptionally high temperatures tempt many people to visit natural waters, lakes, and rivers more frequently, which increases the risk of drowning accidents.

In this context, the French ministries of Health and Sports have intensified their prevention campaigns. The goal is to minimize risks through educational campaigns and stricter controls and particularly to better protect children and youth. This also includes promoting safe swimming behavior and continuously improving swimming education at schools and clubs.

In addition, experts advocate regularly evaluating existing prevention strategies and adapting them to changing climatic conditions. Only a comprehensive revision of swimming education, combined with effective preventive measures, can contribute to reducing the number of drowning accidents and fatalities in the long term.

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