I think it is because you are using it in the ion-content
This worked for me…in the html.
<ion-card (swipe)="swipeEvent($event)">
<ion-item>
Swiped: {{swipe}} times
</ion-item>
</ion-card>
in .ts
public swipe: number = 0;
swipeEvent(e) {
this.swipe++
}