Damp (dpa / lnw) - 30 people drowned in North Rhine-Westphalia from January to July this year. That was 14 deaths more than in the first seven months of the previous year, as the German Life Saving Society (DLRG) announced on Thursday in an interim balance of the year in the Schleswig-Holstein Baltic Sea resort of Damp. 14 people drowned in rivers, 10 in lakes and 2 in a canal. The other victims died in a stream, in a pool, in a swimming pool or in a pond.
As in the comparison period of 2021, June has been the month with the most bathers so far this year. But: While a year ago the number of victims only rose noticeably in the summer (11 in June), in 2022 there were already numerous deaths in the first few months (3 in February, 6 in March and 3 each in April and May).
There is also a change in the age of the drowned. In 2021, most bathers died in the 11 to 20 age group (6). A year later, 6 of the dead are again between 11 and 20 years old, but in the age group of 31 to 50 year olds there are a total of 9 bathing dead. And even among the older ones (71 to 85) there are 5 victims.
According to DLRG figures, the number of people who drowned in Germany rose by 15 to at least 199 from January to July compared to the previous year. According to the DLRG, the majority of accidents occur inland in mostly unguarded waters.
