Nine People Drown in Slovakia in a Single Weekend as Heat Wave Drives Crowds to Water

Nine people drowned in Slovakia over a single weekend as a Europe-wide heat wave prompted large numbers of people to seek relief in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Similar spikes in drowning deaths were reported across the continent, including in France and Poland. Michal Baran, head of a rescue training center, warned that most drowning incidents in high temperatures are caused by cold-water shock — a sudden physiological response when a heated body enters cold water — rather than a lack of swimming ability. He cautioned that even strong swimmers can be caught off guard, and urged people to use swimming buoys, avoid alcohol before entering the water, and remain calm rather than panic if they get into difficulty. Overestimating one's own physical condition and swimming ability, he said, remains the leading factor behind water fatalities during summer heat spells.