It has been a long time since there have been so few fatal swimming accidents as in the past year. But experts warn: fewer and fewer children are learning to swim safely.
Bad Nenndorf – In Germany, fewer people drowned in swimming accidents than in over 20 years.
At least 299 people drowned – around 20 percent fewer than in 2020, as the German Life Saving Society (DLRG) announced on Thursday.
“This means that for 2021 we have recorded the lowest level since 2000, when we started to systematically collect the numbers,” said DLRG President Ute Vogt. The number of drowned people has fallen for the third year in a row, which is surprising: more accidents were expected during the pandemic, but most people were probably careful on and in water.
According to the information, 57 percent of those who drowned with a known age were older than 50 years, but children and young people are also repeatedly affected. 17 children under the age of ten drowned in 2021, six less than a year earlier. There was an increase from 26 to 30 deaths among 11- to 20-year-olds. “In this context, we are concerned that fewer and fewer children can swim safely today,” said Vogt. She called for more swimming pools and more trained staff in schools. Only 40 percent of ten-year-olds could swim safely. dpa
