The German Life-Saving Society (DLRG) recorded 393 fatal bathing accidents in German waters last year, a decrease of 18 incidents compared with 2024. The majority of these tragedies occurred in June, when 69 people lost their lives. A particularly sorrowful weekend in that month saw 15 deaths from swimming or bathing.
More than half of the fatal incidents took place during the bathing season, from early May through late August. July, a month with abundant rainfall, saw a drop in accidents, yet 52 people still died in the water. In August, 65 people drowned. The most common age for victims was over 60, but the number of deaths among people aged 11 to 30 rose compared to the previous year. Among the survivors in these age groups, only one was female; male teenage and young adult swimmers are especially prone to overconfidence and self‑exaggeration, with alcohol consumption often contributing to these incidents. Across all known genders, about 82 % of the victims in 2025 were male.
Fatalities among children up to ten years old were 13, significantly below the 25‑year average of 29 and the 12 recorded in 2012. The DLRG also notes non‑fatal drowning incidents that can leave lasting, life‑altering injuries. Their statistics do not include drownings that happen in private homes, such as in a bathtub.
DLRG leadership stresses that reducing accident numbers requires stronger prevention work and expanded swimming education, particularly in schools. President Ute Vogt highlighted that many children leave primary school without being able to swim safely, which poses an unnecessary risk to life. Most fatal incidents occurred in lakes and rivers, while the number of victims in seas decreased.