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Drowning deaths in rivers, canals, and lakes raise alarm during the heatwave in Europe, as authorities emphasize the risks of open waters, thermal shock, and improvised rescues in unsupervised locations.
Since June 18, 40 people have drowned in France while trying to cool off amid the heatwave affecting parts of Europe, according to the French Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu.
The increase in cases has led authorities to reinforce warnings about swimming in rivers, canals, lakes, and unsupervised areas, especially during periods of extreme heat.
On Tuesday (23), France recorded record temperatures, with a peak of 44.3°C in the southwest of the country, according to Météo-France.
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The United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland also faced intense heat, affecting schools, transportation, and tourist spots, in a scenario associated with an atmospheric blockage trapping hot air over the region.
The search for rivers and canals increased as many people sought immediate relief from the high temperatures, even in sections where swimming is prohibited or dangerous.
French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari expressed understanding of the attempt to escape the heat but said swimming unsupervised during a heatwave should be taken “very seriously”.
Among the recorded cases is that of a 13-year-old girl who entered the Seine River with her family in Fontaine-La-Port, although she could not swim.
Near Lyon, a young professional soccer player was pulled in serious condition from the Rhône River after emergency teams were called to rescue four youths in a swimming-prohibited area.
Heatwave increases risk in open waters
In Germany, deaths were also reported during the heat period, according to the German Lifesaving Association, known by the acronym DLRG.
The organization reported six fatal incidents with swimmers between Friday (19) and Sunday (21), and warned that men, in particular, tend to overestimate their own abilities in the water.
Days after the disappearance of three men aged 23, 27, and 50 in two different points of the Rhine River, three bodies were found near Biblis, in southwestern Germany.
In the United Kingdom, nine people died in incidents involving lakes and rivers during a heatwave recorded at the end of May.
More than half of the French departments were under red alert, the maximum level, during the heat episode, and hundreds of schools had activities affected.
Reuters reported that 54 departments were on red alert on Tuesday (23), with a forecast to increase to 58 the following day.
Behind the rise in temperatures, meteorologists point to an atmospheric block known as the “Omega block”, which traps a mass of hot air between cooler systems.
With air circulation hindered, the heat remains over the same area and can intensify over the days.
Invisible dangers increase the risk of drowning
Experts heard by the BBC say that the lack of experience in open waters helps explain part of the deaths recorded during the heatwave.
Steve Cavallo, from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, said that when the weather heats up in countries unaccustomed to intense heat, many people enter any body of water, whether on the coast or inland.
Reservoirs, canals, and lakes formed in former industrial areas may hide obstacles beneath the surface, increasing the risk of entrapment, injury, and loss of control while swimming.
Cavallo stated that it is not possible to know, just by observing from the outside, which objects have been discarded or remain submerged in these locations.
Another risk factor is the thermal shock caused by cold water, even when the air temperature is very high.
Ashley Jones, a water safety expert from the Royal Life Saving Society, explained that water does not heat up at the same speed as air and that running, jumping, or diving in can cause a sudden and involuntary gasp.
According to Jones, this reaction becomes dangerous when the person is already in the water because breathing and heart rate accelerate suddenly.
In a situation of fright and physical exertion, panic can hinder movements and initiate the drowning process.
Georgia Beardmore, from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, stated that most accidental drownings occur in inland waters, not at sea.
In her assessment, reservoirs, canals, and quarry lakes present different and less visible risks than those normally associated with beaches.
Improvised rescue can worsen emergencies
Besides the risks for those entering the water, experts draw attention to the danger of unprepared rescue attempts, especially when family members or friends are in difficulty.
Cavallo stated that, in many cases, those who try to help also end up needing rescue because they are unaware of the current, obstacles, or the condition that put the victim at risk.
To reduce this danger, Andrew Black, a volunteer from the York Rescue Boat, recommends the “reach and throw” technique, which involves throwing or extending something that the person can hold onto.
The object can be an emergency equipment, a branch, tied towels, or any item that allows for assistance without directly entering the water.
When someone falls or finds themselves in difficulty, the guidance is to try to float on their back, keep the airways out of the water, and control breathing before calling for help or swimming.
Beardmore and Black emphasize that staying calm helps adapt to the cold and reduces the risk of panic while waiting for rescue.
