16 deaths in a weekend: Tourists ignoring warnings put out by the authorities. Calls to fine or ban people going outside marked and patrolled areas. People underestimating their capacity or ignoring obvious danger signs. Apart from the number of deaths this could be a powder day in the Alps.
The figure is, in fact, the number of fatalities by drowning over last weekend in France. Contrary to the headlines this is no exception, the mortality rate is about half that of last summer. Normally drownings go without much comment in the press, it is an accepted part of the summer landscape. If a similar hecatomb were repeated on the ski slopes you can be sure the authorities would ban off piste skiing in a flash, as they did in 1999.
The causes behind some of the recent incidents mirror those seen both on and off piste skiing. Bathers ignoring strong swells despite being poor swimmers. Warning signs ignored. Swimmers incapacitated after drinking or eating too much lunch. People overestimating their capacity, one man was picked up close to drowning on Saturday trying to swim from the beach at Arcachon to sandbanks despite strong currents and boats.
However the image of imprudent swimmers dicing with death on the high seas is just a part of the picture. As the rescue services reminded people on Monday most incidents occur in normal conditions, within 300 meters of the shore, usually due to fatigue.
