July is the month when the most people die in drowning accidents. A common reason why elderly people drown is that they do not use a life jacket when they are out in a boat, and alcohol is often also involved.
"Another reason is that people overestimate their swimming ability. Swimming skills deteriorate over time, but many who knew how to swim in school assume that it is innate, and it is not that simple with swimming," said Louise Brädde, an expert at the Lifesaving Society (Livräddningssällskapet).
One of her pieces of advice is therefore to test your swimming skills and to wear a life jacket. Another is to always swim with someone, not alone.
The Lifesaving Society's statistics for 2025 show that 80 percent of the 103 who drowned during the year were men.
The majority – 52 of 103 cases – were people who were 60 years of age or older.
The statistics also include some cases of illness, where it is difficult to determine what is cause and effect. For example, if someone suffers a cardiac arrest while swimming, it is counted as drowning even if it is the cardiac arrest that is the actual cause of death.
During the first half of 2026, 22 people have died in drowning accidents, compared to 40 people during the same period last year.