In what position might you find a drowning person in the water?

A drowning person is most likely to be face down in the water. This position occurs because a person who is struggling to stay afloat tends to lose their ability to maintain a vertical position and may end up in a face-down posture as they submerge. This orientation significantly hinders their ability to breathe or call for help, making the situation more urgent.

While it is theoretically possible for a drowning individual to be standing, sitting, or floating horizontally, these positions are less common in the context of someone in active distress. In particular, standing or sitting are typically associated with individuals who are not in immediate peril, while floating with arms spread can indicate a state of relaxation or conscious effort to remain buoyant, rather than the frantic struggle typical of someone who is drowning.