Greek Mayors Urge Action as Drowning Deaths Rise with Summer Heat

As summer heats up across Greece, so too do concerns about beach safety, with a troubling surge in drowning incidents prompting urgent calls for government intervention.

Mayors from coastal municipalities are sounding the alarm as lifeguard shortages leave many popular beaches dangerously unprotected. With tens of thousands flocking to the water during peak heatwaves, the absence of trained safety personnel is proving fatal.

According to the Greek Water Safety Accident Observatory, more than 80% of drownings in recent years have involved swimmers over the age of 60, many within just 1,000 metres of the shore. In 2024, July alone saw 127 recorded deaths. This year, the numbers are on track to match or surpass that grim statistic.

In a public statement, local leaders from Crete, the Peloponnese and parts of central Greece said they are struggling to hire enough lifeguards due to a combination of delayed funding approvals, short tender periods, and a dwindling number of qualified candidates. One mayor told Greek media this week:
"We start the season late because of bureaucracy and by then, it's too late. Lives are already at risk."

The problem is not new. In 2023, it was revealed that 1 in 10 organised beaches in Greece operated without any lifeguard presence during summer, particularly outside tourist hotspots. The consequences have been devastating.

One high-profile case that drew international attention involved a British tourist who drowned at an unguarded beach in Rethymno, Crete. A UK coroner later urged Greek authorities to strengthen enforcement of beach safety laws and ensure lifeguards are present at all designated swimming areas.

In response, the Hellenic Lifesaving Academy and local coastguard agencies have increased public messaging, advising vulnerable groups—particularly elderly swimmers—to take extra care, avoid swimming alone, and stay close to shore.

Some municipalities are taking matters into their own hands. In Thessaloniki and parts of the Ionian islands, local councils have introduced drone patrols and early-warning alert systems. But these measures remain the exception, not the rule.

Experts argue that unless staffing, funding, and planning processes are reformed at a national level, Greece’s long-standing reputation as a safe summer destination may be at risk.

"Prevention is not expensive—but inaction always is," noted one senior lifeguard trainer. "We cannot allow beaches to become blind spots for tragedy."

With the official summer period just beginning, the pressure is mounting for immediate, coordinated solutions before more lives are lost to preventable accidents in Greece’s otherwise idyllic waters.

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