Switzerland
At Least 15 Drowning Deaths in Switzerland in One Month; 2026 Toll Already Exceeds 2024 and 2025
By July 21, 2026, at least 15 people have drowned in Switzerland within one month, including two recent deaths in the Aar River, according to data from the Swiss Rescue Society (SSS) shared with Keystone-ATS, Switzerland's primary news agency. This toll already exceeds the 2024 and 2025 figures but remains below 2022 and 2023 levels. Most fatal accidents occur in natural bodies of water—lakes and rivers—where conditions are less predictable than in swimming pools. Young adults aged 17 to 32 and people over 65 represent the highest-risk groups. Men are significantly more likely to be victims than women. Since 1974, Switzerland has seen a continuous decline in annual drowning deaths.