
Dr. Niklas Breindahl
MD, PhD
Country
Denmark
Contact information
Mail: Niklas.breindahl@gmail.com
Affiliations
- Postdoc at Prehospital Center Region Zealand and University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Chief Medical Officer and member of the Medical Advisory Board, TrygFonden Surf Lifesaving Denmark.
- Member of the Medical Network for the International Life Saving Federation of Europe (ILSE).
- Member of the International Drowning Researchers’ Alliance (IDRA).
- Member of the International Life Saving Federation (ILS) Medical Committee.
- Founder and National Course Director on the National Lifeguard First Aid courses, Danish Resuscitation Council (DRG).
Biography
Niklas Breindahl graduated as a Medical Doctor in 2021 and obtained his PhD degree in 2025. Niklas’ main interests are drowning, airway management, resuscitation, emergency medicine, and intensive care. Niklas is a team player and is always open to new collaborations. He is a medical researcher and educator with +20 peer-reviewed publications (including original research, book chapters, and guidelines) and has delivered +2,500 hours of classroom, clinical, and simulation-based teaching to lifeguards, medical students, and residents.
Working experience within Surf Life Saving Denmark
- 8 years as a professional ocean lifeguard in Denmark
- 1 season as professional ocean lifeguard in Queensland (Mooloolaba Beach), Australia
- 4 years as ocean lifeguard instructor
- 2 years as course director and first aid coordinator
- Current position as Chief Medical Officer and member of the Medical Advisory Board
Selected publications
- Breindahl N, Bitzer K, Sørensen OB, et al. The Danish Drowning Cohort: Utstein-style data from fatal and non-fatal drowning incidents in Denmark BMJ Medical Research Methodology. 2025.
- Bitzer K, Breindahl N, Kelly B, et al. The role of accidental hypothermia in drowning patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A nationwide registry-based cohort study. Resuscitation. 2025.
- Breindahl N, Bierens JLM, Wiberg S, et al. Prehospital guidelines on in-water traumatic spinal injuries for lifeguards and prehospital emergency medical services: an international Delphi consensus study. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2024.
- Breindahl N, Wolthers SA, Møller TP, et al. Characteristics and critical care interventions in drowning patients treated by the Danish Air Ambulance from 2016 to 2021: a nationwide registry-based study with 30-day follow-up. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2024.
- Sørensen OB, Bitzer K, Mikkelsen S, Christensen HC, Breindahl N. Lifeguards in Denmark. Ugeskr Laeger. 2023.
- Breindahl N, Wolthers SA, Jensen TW et al. Danish Drowning Formula for identification of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest from drowning, The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2023.
- Breindahl N, Strange KF, Østergaard D, et al. Evaluation of a critical incident management system on mental health in lifeguard organisations: a retrospective study. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise. Medicine. 2023.
- Breindahl N, Granholm A, Jensen TW, et al. Assessment of breathing in cardiac arrest: a randomised controlled trial of three teaching methods among laypersons. BMC Emerg Med. 2021.