A significant rise

Why drownings in France have climbed this summer

According to Ferrari, people had been taking risks to cool down, and a number of the deaths were recorded in "open water, in canals for example".

The minister added that many drownings, particularly among the elderly, had happened in private pools.

Ferrari further warned that sudden immersion in cold water on a hot day can cause shock, with some swimmers exceeding their physical capabilities.

As per the French authorities, many deadly accidents have occurred in areas that are not authorised or supervised for swimming.

The same heat has driven wildfires across France, Spain and Italy, with British travellers already warned about holiday spots affected by the wildfires in Spain and France.

The Golfech nuclear plant was shut down temporarily in June, after water in the River Garonne topped the 28C limit set for cooling its reactors, and the Eiffel Tower closed early.

Between late may and 22 July, France has logged 7,300 excess deaths, provisional public health figures revealed.

According to Ferrari, the government is working with regional authorities "to improve swimming areas and make things safer".

The Copernicus climate service revealed that Europe is warming twice as fast as the global average.

Meanwhile, the UK has had amber heat-health alerts of its own this summer, which means that the pressure on unsupervised rivers, canals and beaches is unlikely to ease.