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Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - In the Corona year 2020 with pool closures or strictly limited use, the number of pool deaths in North Rhine-Westphalia fell significantly to 47 (previous year 65).
However, the figures suggest that many swimmers have switched from the restricted public swimming pools to unsupervised open water.
There - in rivers, ponds and lakes or canals - all fatal accidents happened.
Not a single swimmer drowned in a swimming pool in North Rhine-Westphalia in 2020, as the German Life Rescue Society announced in Berlin on Tuesday.
As in the previous year, the overwhelming number of bathing deaths (37 out of 47) in North Rhine-Westphalia were male.
According to the figures, there was a particular focus on fatal accidents among younger swimmers between 16 and 35 and among seniors between 71 and 85. August was the clear main month of risk: in this month alone, 15 people drowned across North Rhine-Westphalia.
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The DLRG experts warn against swimming in the Rhine year after year: Strong currents and a lot of shipping traffic could be life-threatening there.
Another danger point are quarry ponds with surprisingly cold undercurrents.
In view of the large number of pool closures, the DLRG fears that even fewer children will learn to swim safely.
"Today children no longer have the opportunity to learn to swim everywhere and everywhere," said DLRG President Achim Haag in Berlin.
"Many primary schools have paths to the nearest swimming pool that cannot be reconciled with any lesson planning."
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210309-99-752028 / 2