National drownings hit high

MORE than 100 people tragically drowned in Australian waterways this past summer.

The Royal Life Saving Australia National Summer Drowning Toll showed drownings were up 5 per cent from the 2023-24 summer, and up 14 per cent on the five-year-average.

Males remained over-represented at 81 per cent of the data, with one third (32 per cent) of people aged 55 years and over.

Victoria recorded the second highest number of drowning deaths – 22 lives – with New South Wales topping the list at 33.

Approximately one third of drownings occurred at beaches (32 per cent) rivers (30 per cent).

Two thirds of the drownings occurred in regional areas due to greater exposure to natural waters and reduced access to safe swimming areas.

Royal Life Saving Australia chief executive officer Dr Justin Scarr said this summer was tragic in many ways.

“Too many families and communities have been affected by drowning.

“The figures reinforce long held concerns that many Australians lack the swimming skills to enjoy the water safely.”

Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club said it completed more than 200 rescues over the summer period.

Club president Brett Thompson said if lifesavers were not on the beach it would have been worse, and casualties could have been an unfortunate result.

“There’s more people on the beach, and more new Australians and definitely people who have never had swimming lessons.

“Hopefully the new swimming pool in Torquay can help a little bit. We feel a lot of the rescues we do are people who can’t swim

“The sheer numbers of people on the beach make it difficult. Volunteer numbers are dropping off and something has to change.”

Thompson said Jan Juc SLSC was targeting involvement with local high schools and universities to get people in the 16-20 year age group involved in the sport.

“There’s a real drop off after people have finished Nippers. It’s trying to keep them involved and get new members.

“We are trying to push more into the older schools rather than just primary schools, to get them to come down and help.

“It helps career-wise and resume-wise to have these awards you can gain through surf life saving.”

Royal Life Saving Australia said it would focus on four key actions to combat drowning:

Nationally co-ordinated investments to boost swimming and lifesaving skills in children and young people,

Large scale refugee programs,

Expansions to local water safety planning and co-ordination, and

Strategic infrastructure investment.

Royal Life Saving is warning people to stay vigilant around water going into autumn.

Last year, the same number of people drowned in March as did in December.