A tragic toll of dozens of lost lives plagues France, where individuals perished by drowning in rivers while trying to cool off. The search for thermal relief, driven by an intense heat wave, led many to enter bodies of water where swimming was expressly prohibited.
Since the beginning of the period of high temperatures in French territory, more than forty citizens have lost their lives in drowning accidents while trying to cool off in rivers. Although Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu released an initial figure of more than 40 deaths, broadcaster France Info, based on its own sources, points to an even more alarming number, reaching 55 deaths.
Recent days have marked heat records in France, with the heat wave persisting, despite the expectation of milder temperatures in some regions from Friday. On Wednesday afternoon, the nation recorded an average of 38°C, with several cities, including Paris, surpassing the 40°C mark. Em Palluau, um vilarejo no oeste francês, os termômetros quase atingiram 44°C, e a noite entre quarta e quinta-feira estabeleceu um novo recorde para a temperatura média noturna, alcançando 22°C.
Among the drowning victims, there are young people and children who ventured into the water without knowing how to swim. One of the critical factors is the strength of the current, often underestimated in calm-looking rivers, which prevents safe return to the bank. Furthermore, the sudden change in temperature when entering cold waters can induce severe cramps, further compromising swimming ability. In scenarios like these, even people trying to provide assistance can be victimized, which leads experts to advise immediate contact with emergency services, rather than direct intervention, unless the swimmer is a highly qualified swimmer.
In France, there has been a continuous increase in the number of drownings throughout the summer in recent years. In 2025, 409 deaths were recorded, which represents an increase of 16% compared to the previous year, 2024. The country’s national health agency highlights that this increase is notably accentuated during periods of extreme heat, when the population seeks refuge in rivers, lakes and other aquatic environments.
The Minister of Sports, Marina Ferrari, pointed out that a significant part of the problem arises from the lack of access to swimming lessons in several rural French locations, due to the lack of appropriate swimming pools. During heat waves, as detailed by the minister, it is common for individuals to instinctively seek thermal relief in the water, even if they do not have experience or full understanding of the dangers involved. Many of the recent tragic events took place in areas where swimming was explicitly prohibited.