Tweet Facebook Mail Australia is bracing for another tragic summer of drowning incidents after a major increase in deaths at beaches, rivers and swimming pools. The release of The National Drowning Report 2024 has prompted calls for better water safety measures, with 323 drowning deaths recorded over the past year - 14 per cent higher than last year's figures. Royal Life Saving Australia found there is a persistent and worsening issue with swimming deaths across the country.
READ MORE: Aussie man critically injured, in coma following moped accident in Bali The Royal Life Saving report found a big increase in drowning deaths over the past 12 months. (9News) Insights from the report, shared in Parliament House in Canberra, include that older Australians aged 65 years and over made up 28 per cent of the total figure, with 92 deaths in the past year. This was the largest number ever.
Among the drowning deaths were 15 children under the age of five, while 25 per cent were people born overseas, most commonly from India, China and Nepal. It found people from disadvantaged and regional communities drowned at a higher rate, particularly with children aged between five and 14. The report listed beaches were the most common place Australians drowned, with 150 dying at public beaches, followed by inland water locations with 110 deaths.
There were 35 deaths in swimming pools. READ MORE: 'Tech king' missing after luxury superyacht sinks in freak storm The report was announced at Parlia.