Record number of people drown in Sweden this year

A total of 61 people drowned in Sweden so far this year -- a historically high figure, according to the Swedish Television reports.

Roughly nine in ten of those who drowned in the first six months of 2016 were men and most of them were middle aged or elderly. However, in a recent survey conducted in Sweden, 42 percent of respondents said they believe newly arrived immigrants are at the highest risk of drowning, followed by children.

When it comes to drowning, men do not tend to see themselves as a high-risk group, said Hanna Axelsson, head of press at the Trygghansa insurance company, which ordered the survey from pollster Novus.

The Trygghansa survey shows that men are more likely to believe they can swim long distances. A total of 85 percent of male respondents said they are able to swim 200 meters.

"Men overestimate their swimming skills and all studies point to men being more prone to taking risks than women," Karin Brand, secretary-general of the Swedish Life Rescue Association, told Swedish Television.

The Association started keeping records of drowning accidents 16 years ago and 61 incidents is the highest number measured so far.

A major risk factor, beyond overestimating one's swimming skills, is alcohol consumption. According to the Swedish Contingencies Agency, 50 percent of men who drown have alcohol in their bodies. For women, that ratio is 30 percent.

Drowning accidents normally increase during the summer months, and Brand of the Swedish Life Rescue Association recommends skipping alcohol before swimming and staying in shallow waters and near beaches. Endit