Victorian Drowning Report released

THE Victorian Drowning Report for 2016/2017 shows 45 people lost their lives to drowning in Victoria, a 20 per cent increase on the 10-year average.

The report also reveals, compared to the 10-year average, a 6 per cent increase in the drowning rate for children aged 0-4 years, a 25 per cent increase for young adults aged 15-24 years, an 18 per cent increase for adults aged 25-44 years and a 45 per cent increase for adults aged 65 years and over.

The launch of the report on Monday also included the latest recipients of the “Everyday Lifesaver” award, which recognises people who have used their lifesaving and water-safety skills to perform a significant rescue or save somebody’s life.

These include 12-year-old Nipper Mila Guerrero, who put her training into action to save the lives of two tourists caught in a rip in water off Lorne last summer.

She instructed the pair to hold onto her surfboard and pulled them out of the water one by one.

The Victorian Drowning Report provides, for the first time, snapshots of drowning in public swimming pools, as well as children drowning in home pools.

Both have been identified as key priority areas for action and will be areas of significant focus in drowning prevention activities for 2017/18, with a need to improve pool barrier requirements and highlight the importance of supervision.

Life Saving Victoria’s principal research associate Dr Bernadette Matthews compiled the report and says paramedics also attended 54 non-fatal drowning incidents in Victoria during the period, bringing the number of drowning incidents across the state to 99.

“Drownings are shocking to both families of the victims and the public, especially because each drowning could have been prevented.

“Non-fatal drownings gain less attention, but they also have far-reaching effects on families and also on the victims, who may never fully recover.”