Soaring temperatures cause 17 deaths by drowning in Finland

HELSINKI (AFP) Jul 21, 2003
Seventeen Finns have drowned in the past week as they sought respite from the heatwave surging through the country, where drowning is a leading cause of accidental death, officials said on Monday.

Finns are generally poor swimmers, while warm weather also makes it more likely for heart attacks to occur, Reijo Vartia, from the Finnish swimming and safety association, told public broadcaster YLE.

Drowning is second only to car crashes as a cause of accidental death in Finland.

The latest deaths brought the total number of drowned this month to 29. Lasy July, 47 Finns died from drowning, while 62 drowned in July 2001.

TERRA.WIRE