By Callum Ludwig
The National Drowning Report 2024 was released on Tuesday 20 August, with a devastating 323 people drowning in 2023/24.
On Wednesday 29 May 2024 at about 3pm, a man was walking across an offshoot of the Yarra River behind the popular Redwood Forest in East Warburton when he fell into a relatively deep part of the river.
The man was not able to be located by friends and family, triggering a near-seven hour search involving the Upper Yarra SES Unit, Lilydale SES Swift Water Rescue team, Manningham and Maroondah SES Boat Rescue crews and Victoria Police. The man’s body was eventually recovered and his death was not being treated as suspicious.
On 28 January 2024, a 23-year-old Wantirna South man also died in the Yarra River in the Outer East after being swept into rapids near Warrandyte. His body was recovered at about 1.30pm the following day.
A man’s body was also recovered from the Yarra River in Warrandyte on Tuesday 24 October 2023, believed to be a 35-year-old Warrandyte man who went missing on Wednesday 18 October 2023. The death is not being treated as suspicious at this stage and police will prepare a report for the coroner.
Royal Life Saving – Australia CEO Justin Scarr said this year’s report highlights the need to invest in building community resilience to drowning, strengthen swimming and water safety skills of children and adults, especially for those living in regional communities and migrant communities.
“The Report is a reminder that many Australians now lack the skills to swim, float or stay safe in the water, it’s a reminder that drowning prevention starts at home, in schools and at local pools,” he said.
“We must ensure no child or adult misses out on learning to swim, and that all Australians have access to a safe place to swim, starting with a great local swimming pool.”
Over the past ten years 34 per cent of the people who drowned were born overseas, often recently arrived refugees, migrants or international students while their main countries of origin were India, China and Nepal. In the last year, 25 per cent of deaths were people from overseas.
“In response to the tragic summer events, many migrant communities themselves are leading the way, raising awareness and promoting programs. Governments can do more. Policies changes can help to ensure migrants, refugees and international students have early access programs in their local communities”, Mr Scarr said.
Rivers alone accounted for 25 per cent of drownings in the last year (80) with inland waterways overall accounting for 34 per cent (110).
Coastal locations accounted for the most deaths with 150 (46 per cent), including 84 (26 per cent) at beaches while swimming pools accounted for 35 deaths (11 per cent) of which over half of those were backyard pools.
The largest number of drowning deaths in people aged 65 or over, 92 people (28 per cent), was recorded while 15 children aged under five also drowned.
Federal Minister for Aged Care and Sport Anika Wells said the Australian Government was committed to supporting organisations like Royal Life Saving – Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia to raise water safety awareness and with some simple precautions, we can all enjoy the water safely.
“Always supervise children around water, learn swimming, water safety and lifesaving skills, wear a lifejacket when boating, and always swim between the red and yellow flags,” she said
“Enjoying a swim has so many benefits, especially for older adults. If you are over 55 and love the water, having a pre-summer medical check-up to ensure you are swim fit, and refreshing your skills at the local swimming pool are two great water safety ideas ahead of summer.”
The total figure is 42 higher than last year’s total and 16 per cent greater than the 10-year average of 278. 2022 (339 deaths) is the only other year in the same time period to record over 300 drowning deaths.
