By early August 2026, 168 deaths had been recorded, a decrease of 49 incidents compared with the same period in 2025. People over 60 account for 80% of victims, prompting the launch of a targeted awareness campaign for the elderly. Experts recommend choosing organised beaches with lifeguards, avoiding swimming after meals, and entering the water gradually for safety reasons.

With around 3.6 drowning deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, according to recent figures from the National Public Health Organisation (EODY), Greece ranks among the European countries with a high frequency of fatal incidents in the water.

An average of 357 people drown in the country every year. Speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA), Eliza Karabetian-Nikotian, communications officer at Safe Water Sports, said that by the first days of August 2026, 168 people had already lost their lives. This nevertheless marks a decrease compared with the same period in 2025, when 49 more deaths were recorded.

According to Karabetian-Nikotian, drowning is one of the most common causes of accidental death in Greece, but it can largely be prevented, particularly through adherence to safety rules and continuous public awareness.

Dimitris Chaliotis, a representative of the Hellenic Red Cross Lifesaving School, made the same point to AMNA, stressing that “through initiatives such as screening videos, distributing leaflets on beaches and talking directly to bathers, we are trying to raise awareness and inform the public about how to stay safe.”

The statistics: the picture in Greece

The World Health Organisation (WHO) ranks drowning as the third leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, claiming 300,000 lives a year. Children under five make up almost 25% of victims, while high mortality is also recorded among the elderly over 70.

Last year (2025), according to Safe Water Sports’ Accident Observatory for Greece and Cyprus, the number of confirmed drowning deaths in the country reached 376.

“The over-60 age group represents almost 80% of victims,” Karabetian-Nikotian notes, adding that Safe Water Sports, working with EODY and the Health Ministry, has launched a campaign of targeted initiatives to inform older people about how to prevent accidents and stay safe in and around water.

Preventive measures

Karabetian-Nikotian says it is important not to go to the beach alone and not to choose to swim at beaches without a lifeguard. She points out that, because older people in particular have been observed going into the sea very early, before lifeguards arrive on shore (lifeguards typically work from 10am to 6pm), several municipalities have started posting lifeguards earlier in the day.

Chaliotis, for his part, stressed that “it isn’t feasible to have a lifeguard on every beach, so it’s essential that people choose beaches where lifeguards are present, in case help is needed.” “My advice is to enjoy the sea, but to do so safely,” he added.

The Safe Water Sports communications officer also said it is important, especially for older people, to see their own doctor before the start of the summer season.

Finally, she stressed the importance of entering and leaving the sea slowly, swimming parallel to the shore so as not to be swept off course by currents, avoiding the water for two to three hours after eating, and using flotation aids for older swimmers if they feel they need them.

“We shouldn’t overestimate our own strength,” Karabetian-Nikotian stressed, “and we shouldn’t go into the sea in poor weather conditions.”

Protective measures

The Hellenic Red Cross, through its Lifesaving School and as part of its nationwide “Enjoying the Water Safely” awareness campaign, offers eight practical guidelines that, as it puts it, “save lives.”

1. Swim at safe, organised beaches. Follow the lifeguard’s instructions and the beach flags.
   
2. Don’t go into the water immediately after eating or drinking alcohol.
   
3. Enter the water gradually, especially if it’s very cold, to avoid thermal shock.
   
4. Don’t swim too far out, and always swim parallel to the shore.
   
5. Don’t dive into unfamiliar water. There could be rocks or other hazards.
   
6. Children should always stay close to an adult, even if they’re wearing a flotation aid.
   
7. Wear a life jacket for activities such as canoeing or paddleboarding.
   
8. If you’re caught in a current, don’t panic. Swim parallel to the shore until you’re clear of it, then head back towards the beach.

“We still have some way to go in building a swimming culture,” Karabetian-Nikotian said in closing, noting that “several steps have already been taken, such as the swimming lessons for third and fourth-grade primary school pupils introduced by the Education Ministry.” “The sea is a joy, and we should be able to enjoy it,” she concluded.