[agentgt]

Maybe so. But the author says "drown" not swim. I presume you knew how to float if you weren't afraid of the water?

I have seen adults that refuse to take lessons because... because... they are afraid.

So regardless I still say it is pretty crappy metaphor.

[kofejnik]

I can only float (i.e. relax on my back doing nothing) in very salty seas, such as Aegean sea, and I absolutely cannot do it in fresh water. Despite it, my parents taught me to swim at 6, no way I'd be able to float before that.

[maxxxxx]

I didn't know how to float either.

[civilian]

You're an N of 1. When I was learning to swim I remember a lot of kids bawling their eyes out when first going into the pool.

[mjevans]

The floating thing and even treading water are more or less required education before you're let out of the shallow pool/end and in to the part where you can't stand on your own.