Drownings in France Rise 14% as Heatwaves Grip Europe

Why drownings in France have climbed this summer

Ferrari said people had been taking risks to cool down, and that a number of the deaths were recorded in "open water, in canals for example". Speaking on Friday, she added that many drownings, particularly among the elderly, had happened in private pools, and warned that sudden immersion in cold water on a hot day can cause shock, with some swimmers exceeding their physical capabilities.

Many deadly accidents have occurred in areas that are not authorised or supervised for swimming.

Marina Ferrari, French sports and youth minister

The same heat has driven wildfires across France, Spain and Italy, with British travellers already warned about holiday spots affected by wildfires in Spain and France. In June the Golfech nuclear plant was shut down temporarily after water in the River Garonne topped the 28C limit set for cooling its reactors, and the Eiffel Tower closed early. France has logged 7,300 excess deaths between late May and 22 July, according to provisional public health figures.

Ferrari said the government is working with regional authorities "to improve swimming areas and make things safer". Europe is warming twice as fast as the global average, according to the Copernicus climate service, and the UK has had amber heat-health alerts of its own this summer – so the pressure on unsupervised rivers, canals and beaches is unlikely to ease.