Skåne Faces Rising Drowning Incidents Amid Warm Weather

Skåne reports rising drowning incidents, with eight fatalities already in 2025 due to warm weather.

Key Points

  • • Eight individuals have drowned in Skåne in 2025, exceeding last year's total.
  • • A recent drowning of a 35-year-old man in Södra Saxtorpssjön drew attention to the rising incidents.
  • • Göran Bertilsson cautioned swimmers against overestimating their skills.
  • • On average, one drowning per day has been reported across Sweden over the last two weeks.

In July 2025, Skåne is grappling with a troubling increase in drowning incidents, having already recorded eight deaths compared to six in all of 2024. The trend is particularly alarming as reports emerge of multiple drowning accidents occurring within a short timeframe. Recent weekends have been particularly deadly, prompting emergency services to respond to three drowning alarms, including a tragic incident involving a 35-year-old man who drowned in Södra Saxtorpssjön.

Göran Bertilsson from the Swedish Lifeguard Society highlighted the unusual frequency of these incidents, suggesting that the prevalent warm weather has encouraged more individuals to take to the water. He warns swimmers to be cautious, stating, "one should not overestimate their skills, as swimming proficiency is a perishable skill."

The rising number of drownings is part of a broader trend, with the entire country facing an increased drowning rate of approximately one person per day over the past two weeks. End of June statistics indicated 40 reported drowning cases nationwide, emphasizing that public safety measures need to be revisited in light of this concerning tally.