One in five pools breaks safety laws

Even where there is equipment, most had covers that do not meet standards, a study for Mano­Mano DIY site found.

Many covers aimed to keep pools clean but could not support the weight of a person falling in. Around 400 people drown each summer in France with 121 deaths from June 1 - July 5 this year.

One in seven people cannot swim and poor lessons and a lack of lifeguards have partly been blamed (read more here)