Thirty-three people have drowned in Catalonia this season, with young foreigners, especially of African origin, facing the highest risk. Experts point to a lack of swimming skills and social inequality as key factors.
Thirty-three people have lost their lives to drowning in Catalonia since the start of the bathing season, with beaches, rivers, and pools all seeing fatal incidents. The alarming number, recorded by mid-season, has prompted authorities to urge extra caution for children and the elderly—groups traditionally seen as most vulnerable. However, a new academic study has shifted the focus to a deeper social issue: a disproportionate number of young foreign nationals, particularly those of African descent, are among the victims.
The research, led by Eneko Barbería of the Instituto de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses de Catalunya, analyzed 39 drowning deaths of minors under 18 between 2019 and 2023. Strikingly, 56.4% of these victims were foreign nationals, despite this group making up only 15.7% of the local population. A quarter of the deceased were of African origin. The study links these fatalities to a lack of basic swimming skills and limited access to water safety education, problems that are more acute in lower-income communities.
Experts argue that many of these deaths are preventable. Thais Casadevall, a specialist in open water swimming, notes that accidents at sea are particularly dangerous due to unpredictable conditions—currents, waves, and sudden changes in wind. She emphasizes that knowing how to swim in a pool does not guarantee safety in open water, where orientation and self-control are critical. Some of her students, she says, can swim long distances in a pool but struggle with even short stretches in the sea due to fear or lack of experience.
The study also found that Spanish minors were more likely to drown in pools, while foreign minors faced greater risk in natural waters. This pattern, researchers say, reflects broader social inequalities. Ramsés Martí, an aquatic safety expert, calls for a shift in how swimming is taught—moving beyond sports to focus on survival skills and practical knowledge, such as understanding beach flag systems and the dangers of floating devices in deep water.
Attempts to include water safety in school curriculums have faced obstacles, with economic and cultural barriers excluding many foreign children. The report recommends involving pediatricians and pediatric nurses in promoting water safety advice to families. It also highlights the need for continuous supervision of young children around any body of water, as 59% of drowning victims under 18 were younger than six. Even a few centimeters of water in a bucket or portable pool can be deadly for toddlers, according to the Spanish Association of Pediatrics.
Recent tragedies, such as the deaths of three boys aged 12 and 13 at Tarragona's Arrabassada beach, have underscored the urgency of the issue. Despite warnings from local authorities, risky behaviors like jumping from rocks persist. The challenge of preventing such incidents is not unique to Catalonia; similar patterns have been observed elsewhere in Spain, as seen in reports of young people risking dangerous crossings at Ceuta—an issue explored in detail in this related analysis.
Contextually, Spain's diverse coastline and widespread access to water recreation make drowning a persistent public health concern. While official campaigns focus on vigilance and supervision, experts stress that equal access to swimming lessons and water safety education is essential to reducing fatalities. The findings from Catalonia may prompt other regions to review their own prevention strategies, especially as migration and social inequality continue to shape the risk landscape.
