Deadly swimming weekend: four drown in Bavarian waters!

Deadly swimming weekend: four drown in Bavarian waters!

The temperatures are constantly rising and with them the need of many people in Bavaria to refresh themselves in the cool waters of the numerous lakes and outdoor pools. But what seemed like a relaxing weekend has turned tragic for some. Several swimming accidents have been reported in the last few days, which has the Waterwacht worried. A report in the Augsburger Allgemeine informs about the frightening results: Last weekend, four people died in Bavarian waters, which makes the beginning of the bathing season worrying and points out the numerous dangers that unprotected bathing experiences can bring with it.

The dramatic situation is evident in a series of accidents. A 78-year-old man drowned after a swimming accident near Altötting, and a 79-year-old drowned in Lake Sylvenstein, where he was swimming with his wife. The fate of a 25-year-old man who went missing on Lake Constance and was found dead after several days at a depth of 12 meters is also tragic. A woman who was seen underwater by bathers drowned at Lake Langwieder. It's a frightening picture that the numbers and reports paint. According to the DLRG, a total of 15 people died in swimming accidents in Germany last weekend.

Increased dangers from heat waves

The heat has drawn people to the cool waters, but the consequences are now alarming. The water rescue service reports that at least 16 fatal swimming accidents were recorded in the first few days of the swimming season. The most recent accidents are not even included in this number. The water temperatures could be tempting, but the water rescue service and the German Weather Service warn of the dangers: temperature fluctuations and inadequate swimming skills should be alarming enough to exercise extreme caution when swimming. A look at the forecasts shows further hot days that can reach temperatures of up to 39 degrees.

The state leaders and the water rescue service emphasize the urgency of measures to increase safety. The more recent DLRG statistics are not exactly encouraging either: last year, at least 411 people drowned in Germany alone. The problem is further exacerbated by the fact that around 800 swimming pools are currently threatened with their existence and every second one is in need of renovation. A decline in the number of suitable swimming pools, particularly near schools, is detrimental to future swimmers. Political efforts are required to maintain swimming pools and, above all, to make them safe.

The importance of swimming safety

Given the increasing number of swimming accidents, the need for safety at beaches and swimming pools is more urgent than ever. The fact that more and more people cannot swim adequately - especially among refugees, who often did not have access to swimming lessons - makes the situation even more precarious. An action plan could, among other things, require the provision of more lifeguards and patrolled swimming areas.

In summary, it can be said that the bathing season in Bavaria is suffering greatly from the pressure of the heat wave. The warnings from the water rescue service and the DWD are clear: Before you go into the water, you should be clear about the circumstances and realistically assess your own swimming ability.

Further information about the serious swimming accidents and the measures taken by the water rescue service can be found in the detailed reports from the Augsburger Allgemeine ( Augsburger Allgemeine ), InFranconia ( In Franconia ) and on Young World ( Young world ).