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DROWNINGS

Five people drown in weekend swimming accidents around Germany

Several people around Germany died over the weekend in drowning accidents. Here’s why they occurred, and how experts say further tragedies in the water can be prevented.

Published: 26 June 2023 12:24 CEST
Lake Konstanz
Lake Konstanz in southern Germany, where a 38-year old man died over the weekend. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)

The accidents occurred in waterways deemed not suitable for swimming, or where it is even expressly forbidden to go into the water.

In Lower Saxony, in the municipality of Bakum north of Osnabrück, a 52-year-old man died in a quarry pond on Sunday, according to police. 

His companion, a 60-year-old woman, was also found floating lifeless in the lake, but rescue workers were able to resuscitate her. Bathing is expressly forbidden in the lake, according to signs posted there.

READ ALSO: How to stay safe while swimming in Germany this summer

A man also died in Münster in North Rhine-Westphalia while trying to swim across the Dortmund-Ems Canal. 

According to the police on Sunday evening, the 32-year-old was accompanied by his 21-year-old girlfriend when he tried to swim through the canal from the eastern to the western bank. He suddenly sank in the middle of the canal.

His girlfriend tried in vain to save her boyfriend. Rescue divers from the fire brigade were able to recover the man, but resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and the 32-year-old died on the spot. 

The Münster police, who were investigating the case, called it a “tragic accident”.

A bathing accident in Lake Konstanz also ended fatally for a man. The 38-year-old was in the water with his girlfriend near Langenargen, Baden-Württemberg on Sunday evening when she complained of pain in her leg and returned to the shore, according to police.

When she turned around, she could no longer see her boyfriend and called for help.

Two bathers rushed to help and pulled the man out of the water. On the shore, according to the police, he was taken to a fire boat and they tried to resuscitate him. The man died in hospital.

There had already been fatalities in North Rhine-Westphalia on Saturday: According to the police, an 86-year-old man died in a quarry pond in Issum near Duisburg after he had tried to cool down. 

Emergency services recovered his body on Saturday afternoon after a search operation in which a police drone was reportedly also used. In nearby Kerken, a 73-year-old swimmer died in a bathing accident in the Eyller See natural outdoor pool.

In Düsseldorf there was also a non-fatal accident on Saturday: three young men were caught in an undertow in the Rhine and swept away.

Rise in the number of accidents

In light of several recent fatal bathing accidents, the German Life Saving Society (DLRG) again warned of the dangers of bathing or swimming in waterways, especially those not explicitly marked for swimmers

Last year, Germans lifeguards rescued 836 people – more than at any time in almost 40 years. 

“Following rescue operations in the water, it becomes clear time and again that the people in distress are not good swimmers or cannot swim at all,” they said.

DLGR further reported that the number of drowning incidents is on the rise in Germany, with at least 355 deaths recorded last year alone.

Of these, 308 deaths occurred in inland waters: 47 people drowned in lakes, 105 in rivers, 15 in streams, 22 in ponds, and 19 in canals, according to the DLRG. Swimming pools accounted for 13 fatalities, while 18 people lost their lives in the sea. Bavaria had the highest number of drowning deaths, with 69 reported cases.

According to the DLRG, one of the most common causes of drowning in Germany is overconfidence in the water, combined with poor swimming skills.

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HEALTH

Should you take vitamin D supplements in Germany?

With the mornings and evenings getting darker, many people may be wondering if taking a vitamin D supplement is recommended in Germany. Here's what to know.

Published: 13 September 2024 13:12 CEST
Should you take vitamin D supplements in Germany?

Vitamin D is a vital nutrient for overall health and well-being, and most people are aware that it can be absorbed via sunlight. 

But as long-time residents in Germany know all too well, sunlight is often hard to come by in the autumn and winter months. In December, there’s only a few hours of daylight per day, typically when most people are at work (and it often isn’t even sunny).

This makes it much harder to get enough vitamin D. A deficiency in vitamin D can lead to several health problems in the long run. Muscle weakness and cramps, fatigue and depression are among the symptoms of not getting enough of this vitamin. 

How do I get the most vitamin D in Germany?

It mostly involves getting outside in the warmer months. Germany’s disease control agency, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), says that vitamin D production happens from March to October and this is when the body builds up reserves for the winter. 

“During this time, the body is not only able to cover its acute needs, but also to build up vitamin D reserves in fat and muscle tissue for the winter months,” says the RKI.

READ ALSO: Your guide to getting through the German winter

The RKI adds that to counteract low vitamin D levels all year round in Germany, current recommendations suggest “exposing your face, hands and arms to the sun uncovered and without sun protection two to three times a week between March and October”.

However experts add that sun protection measures, like wearing sunscreen, must be taken when spending longer periods of time in the sun.

Meanwhile, the German Nutrition Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung or DGE) states: “It is recommended to expose the body to the sun for a total of around five to 25 minutes per day with face, hands and large parts of arms and legs uncovered.”

A number of foods provide some vitamin D. It’s mainly found in fatty fish, roe and fish liver, but red meat, egg yolks and liver are other sources.

Vitamin D is also added to some foods in Germany, such as some milk or vegan milk drinks, yoghurt and other snacks. The nutritional label on food packaging will let people know how much vitamin D they are consuming. 

Although eating foods rich in vitamin D is generally recommended in moderation as part of a varied diet, the DGE says the main focus should be on the body’s own production of vitamin D through exposing skin to sunlight.

READ ALSO: Essential phrases and customs to survive the German winter

What about supplements?

Another way to improve your vitamin D status is to take supplements. 

The German Nutrition Society recommends going down this route if an improvement in vitamin D status cannot be achieved through other routes like getting out and about in the sunlight. 

But be aware that experts also say that taking larger doses over a long period of time can be harmful. 

Pictured are Vitamin D capsules.

Pictured are Vitamin D capsules. Photo by Michele Blackwell on Unsplash

During the height of the Covid pandemic in 2021, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) warned of the health risks of taking vitamin D supplements without taking to a medical professional first. 

“Higher doses should only be taken under medical supervision and taking the individual vitamin D status into account,” the institute said.

“Anyone who wants to take vitamin D on their own should only use supplements with a daily dose of up to 20 micrograms (800 international units),” said the BfR. “With this amount, health impairments are not to be expected.”

According to the BfR, regular daily intake of vitamin D via high-dose preparations – for reasons other than medical reasons – increases the risk of health damage such as the formation of kidney stones or kidney calcification. There have also been cases of acute kidney failure as a result of uncontrolled self-administration of vitamin D preparations, experts said. 

There are a number of people deemed to be more at risk of a vitamin D deficiency.

From the BfR’s point of view, a general vitamin D intake of the upper limit of 20 micrograms per day should only be considered for nursing home residents and other risk groups. 

“This is because vitamin D is produced in the skin under the influence of sunlight. However, many older people hardly exercise outdoors,” the BfR said. Vitamin D production also decreases significantly with age.

READ ALSO: 8 tips for enjoying the cold like a true German

The risk groups for an inadequate vitamin D supply also include people who rarely or never spend time outdoors or who – for cultural or religious reasons – only go outside with their bodies completely covered. Some people who suffer from chronic gastrointestinal, liver or kidney diseases or who take medication that impairs vitamin D metabolism are also more at risk. 

If you suspect that you’re not getting enough vitamin D, go to your GP. They can test for various deficiencies, but bear in mind that these tests are not usually covered by statutory health insurance. 

Even if you don’t test, GPs will be able to advise you on whether you should take a supplement in winter – or all year round – depending on your individual case. 

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