The trend is confirmed: high increase in drownings this summer

Each summer. Furthermore, Public Health France, in partnership with the National System for Observation of the Safety of Nautical trend confirmed: high increase drownings Activities (Snosan), sets up an epidemiological surveillance of noyades. Meanwhile, This year, June already started sadly with 429 drownings including 109 deaths. For example, And the trend unfortunately seems to be confirmed.

In other words, in one year, France recorded a 50 % increase in the total number of drownings and 45 % of deaths.

This dazzling progression is largely explained by exceptional weather conditions. According to Météo-France. the month of June 2025 has been one of the hottest for decades, with an anomaly of +3.3 ° C and a long heat wave from June 19 to July 6. Result, beaches, lakes and rivers taken by storm, including unwanted areas.

A worried wave: +50 % drowning in one year – Trend confirmed: high increase drownings

Minors. particularly exposed – Trend confirmed: high increase drownings

The observation is clear, children and adolescents pay a heavy price for this resurgence of drownings.

• 27 minors died between trend confirmed: high increase drownings June 1 and July 23, 2025, against 15 in 2024.
• Among 13-17 year olds, the proportion of deadly drownings exploded: 30 % in 2025 against 13 % last year.
• Deaths arise mainly in the river and water bodies (56 % of cases), natural environments often not developed and not monitored.

These dramas frequently affect adolescents who bathe with friends, without adult supervision, and sometimes far from secure areas.

Where do these drownings occur?

The report shows that the southern regions and the coastal areas concentrate most accidents. On their own, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Occitanie, New Aquitaine and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes represent 64 % of the drownings identified.

In terms of places:

• Sea: 41 % of deaths. especially in adults,
• Rivers: 30 %, with a large share of minor victims,
• Private family swimming pools: 12 %.

Alcohol consumption remains an aggravating factor, especially during swimming in the river or trend confirmed: high increase drownings at sea, far from the supervised areas.

Heat wave and swimming: a high -risk combination

The heat wave from June 19 to July 6 was particularly deadly. 315 NOYADES identified in 18 days, including 86 deaths against 130 drownings and 36 deaths in 2024 over the same period. Or +142 % drowning and +139 % death.

These episodes of extreme heat encourage thousands of French people to seek freshness near water points. But this rush. often in an emergency, is accompanied by risks: improvised swimming in unwanted areas, ignorance of currents, and thermal shocks linked to brutal immersions in cold water after prolonged exposure to the sun.

Prevent to save lives

Faced with this worrying situation. Public Health France insists on prevention measures:

For children:

• Permanently and closely monitor: never take your eyes off a child by the trend confirmed: high increase drownings water.
• Bathing with them and designating an adult referent per child.
• Initiate swimming from an early age: “Baby swimmer” from 6 months. aquatic ease between 4 and 6 years old, swimming lessons from 6 years old.

For adults:

• Favor monitored swimming areas.
• Respect safety instructions and swimming prohibitions.
• Avoid alcohol consumption before swimming.

Prevent a loved one and gradually enter the water to limit the risk of hydrocution. These recommendations, sometimes obvious but too often neglected, can save lives.

NAMELY

From July 20 to 26, 2025, the national drowning prevention week was organized everywhere in France. In parallel, the campaign “You hold on them, don’t take their eyes off them!” Recalls the importance of permanent surveillance of children, especially during hot weather.