Two people were found far out on Lake Vänern between Djurö and Lurö late on Wednesday afternoon.
Rescue personnel also found two kayaks, and since it was not known if there were more people in distress, the rescue operation continued for almost four hours, with airplanes among other things.
Could be tourists
The two people were taken to hospital and later in the evening the police announced that they have died.
- We work on the assumption that they are foreign tourists and we are in contact with that country's police authority to get help in notifying relatives, says police spokesperson Lars Hedelin.
The rescue operation continued until after 20 in the evening.
- There is no one on the surface who can be alive anymore.
There have been very good search conditions and we have had many units on site, said Jörgen Hansson, the Swedish Maritime Administration's sea rescue manager, at the time.
Another accident
Earlier in the day, passers-by heard screams in Vättern outside Jönköping.
A 35-year-old man was taken out of the water.
According to the police, he has life-threatening injuries.
It is still unclear exactly how the man had ended up in the water.
Until July this year, at least 22 people had drowned, which is a relatively low number compared to previous years.
However, drowning accidents have been feared to increase in connection with the hot summer weather in July.