Australians are being urged to take care by the water, with the latest drowning figures showing the nation is experiencing a deadlier than usual summer.
New South Wales is on track for a record-breaking summer of drownings, as Victoria reels from its most deadly Christmas holidays in almost two decades.
Yesterday a man died in a suspected drowning at a beach in inner Melbourne, while on Wednesday a couple died after being pulled from the water off Mallacoota, in the state's east.
The deaths followed four drownings in the four days from Christmas Day to December 28, representing an 18-year high for the holiday period.
"This is the worst start to the new year possible for affected families," said Life Saving Victoria CEO Catherine Greaves.
"The risks associated with water, particularly inland waterways, cannot be underestimated."
The warning comes as the mercury soars across the country, and thousands of Australians were expected to pack the nation's beaches over the weekend.
Tracking towards worst summer on record
The summer period has been equally difficult along the New South Wales coast, where 28 people have died since December 1.
Twenty-three of those people drowned, including a married couple who died on the NSW Central coast earlier this month, and an elderly man who died on the mid-north coast on Monday
"Statistically at present, this summer is tracking to be the worst on record," a Surf Life Saving NSW spokesperson said.
"NSW volunteer surf lifesavers have performed 2,727 rescues for the period dating December 1-February 16."
There have been been 59 coastal deaths recorded across Australia this summer, compared to 84 this time last year.
Forty-four of those deaths were due to drowning, which was higher than the 10-year average.
Deadly summer off Australia's coast
Across all aquatic locations — including beaches, rivers, and pools — there have been 88 drowning deaths, 20 fewer than last year.
Coastal, ocean drownings and other fatalities in Australian waters |
To 17 February 2023 |
|---|---|
New South Wales |
28 |
Victoria |
10 |
Queensland |
14 |
South Australia |
1 |
Western Australia |
5 |
Tasmania |
1 |
Northern Territory |
0* |
*Northern Territory beaches are not patrolled for drownings during summer due to the presence of box jellyfish.
Note: These numbers, which have been collated from multiple sources, are preliminary and subject to change as case investigations occur during the coronial process.
According to Surf Life Saving Australia, four in five coastal drowning victims this summer were male.
The people who drowned were aged between 17 and 89, with 40-49 year olds accounting for 32 per cent of coastal drownings this summer.
All coastal drowning deaths occurred at unpatrolled areas, outside patrol hours or outside the red and yellow flags, according to Surf Life Saving Australia.
'Stay within your own limits'
Life Saving Victoria research and evaluation manager Dr Hannah Calverley said for every fatal drowning there were three non-fatal drownings.
"For children aged nought to four, this increases to eight non-fatal drownings for every one fatal incident," she said.
"These can have life-long, debilitating consequences on that person and their families."
Dr Calverley said it was essential for the public to make water safety a priority.
"It's really important if you have children you actively supervise them… and if you're visiting one of our coastal locations, to make sure you go to a patrolled location," she said.
Knowing your limits was also essential, Dr Calverley said.
"Some trends that we're seeing in the most recent data is people not understanding or misinterpreting their own swimming ability, and underestimating the water that they're going to," she said.
"That's why we're really urging people that whether it be an ocean, river or even backyard pool, stay within your own limits."
