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Seven drown over Midsummer weekend, two dead in traffic accidents

The Midsummer weekend was warm and sunny, with plenty of people out on the water.

Pelastusrengas Munkkiniemen venesatamassa Helsingissä.
A life buoy at Munkkiniemi in Helsinki. Image: Heikki Saukkomaa / Lehtikuva
  • Yle News

Seven people have drowned in Finland over the Midsummer weekend, which traditionally sees a spike in water-related deaths.

On Sunday an elderly man was found in the water alongside a boat in Pudasjärvi, northern Finland. His body was recovered from the water and he was pronounced dead.

Oulu police said he was not wearing a life jacket.

In Sauvo, south-west Finland, a woman born in 1941 drowned while swimming in front of a summer cottage on Saturday evening, according to local police.

Another drowning occurred on Saturday at Hietaniemi beach in Helsinki, where one young man died after getting into difficulties and another was rescued from the water.

On Midsummer Eve a swimmer drowned off Kivenlahti in Espoo, according to western Uusimaa police.

Other drownings took place in Pälkäne, Rautalampi and Kotka, while a coast guard also died after their boat sank in Loviisa on the south coast.

Two people died in traffic accidents over the weekend, one in Lappeenranta and one in Paltamo, Kainuu.

Sources: Yle