Drowning-related fatalities during a 5-year period (2008–2012) in South-West Hungary – A retrospective study

• We studied the drowning-related cases in South-West Hungary between 2008 and 2012.
• Being a middle-aged male presents an increased risk of drowning.
• Individuals aged between 50 and 70 years have the highest drowning rate.
• More than 60 percent of the drowning victims consumed alcohol.
• Seniors frequently committed suicide by drowning.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate all the drowning-related cases in South-West Hungary between 2008 and 2012. It is a retrospective and descriptive study of 114 drowning-related deaths during that 5-year period. The investigation includes both unintentional and intentional drowning cases.We found that the most considerable risk factor of drowning in this area of Hungary is alcohol consumption, because in more than half of the cases the victims were under the influence of alcohol. We also concluded that more than two third of the cases included males. The cause of drowning in younger victims was mostly accident. In both genders subjects aged 50–70 had the highest risk of drowning in the period investigated. Seniors frequently committed suicide by drowning. Drowning deaths occurred in all types of water, mostly in lakes, rivers, canals and other types of catchment in the vicinity of victims' homes (most commonly in wells). This study might help to understand the circumstances and the causes leading to drowning and it may draw the attention to the possible preventive interventions.