More than 300 people have drowned this year in the sea or in swimming pools in Spain

9/25/23, 2:53 PM By Costas News Costa del Sol

In a grim revelation, Andalucía has reported a total of 43 drownings so far in 2023, with five fatalities occurring in the month of August alone. While these figures show a slight decline compared to the same period last year, the Royal Spanish Federation of Rescue and Lifesaving has expressed concern over the ongoing issue of drowning incidents in the region which remains second on the list in Spain, trailing only Catalonia which has recorded 49 deaths so far this year.

It was disclosed that 302 people have lost their lives due to drowning incidents at beaches or swimming pools across Spain in 2023, marking an increase of 18 fatalities compared to the same period last year. The month of August alone accounted for 53 of these tragic losses.

Shockingly, 18 of the August drownings occurred in areas devoid of lifeguard services, while another 18 transpired despite the presence of lifeguards who were not utilized effectively in 17 instances.

Of grave concern is the fact that August saw a significant spike in fatal drowning incidents among children, with eight of the 25 recorded deaths occurring in this age group. The victims included three-year-olds, a five-year-old, and four aged between seven and 17 years old.

August also witnessed the highest number of drownings among those aged 55 and older, with 19 of the 53 fatalities falling into this category, accounting for 35.8% of the total. Another 20 deaths were recorded in the 18-54 age bracket, making up 37.7% of the fatalities. Furthermore, seven drownings occurred in the 18-25 age group, while five each were reported in the 26-34, 35-44, and 45-54 age groups. Five more victims were aged 55-64, seven in the 65-74 age group, and five in the 75+ age group. In six of the cases, the exact age of the victims remains unknown.

Tragically, the majority of the drowning victims, 46 out of the 53, were of Spanish nationality. Meanwhile, five individuals were of foreign European origin, and the origin of the two victims’ nationality remains undisclosed.