The latest annual drowning figures from Royal Life Saving Australia come with the warning that people need to be alert around water to avoid further.
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In a nutshell, since December, 1 2017, 40 people have lost their lives due to drowning at beaches, rivers and pools around the country.
This is 39 per cent lower (or a reduction of 26 deaths) on the 66 fatal drownings reported at the same time last summer.
NSW recorded the highest number of drowning deaths … accounting for 45 per cent (18 deaths), next was Victoria with 23 per cent (9).
For every fatal drowning, Royal Life Saving estimates a further three people will be hospitalised as a result of a non-fatal drowning incident, ie: they estimate 120 people have been hospitalised this summer due to non-fatal drowning.
Royal Life Saving says there is no room for complacency and it is critical people respect the river and always keep watch of young children when they are around swimming pools.
* Drowning deaths at inland waterways (such as rivers and creeks) are down by 73 per cent on the same time last year and swimming pools are down by 80 per cent on the same time last year.
* 80 per cent of drownings this summer were males. Two thirds of the drownings were people aged 18 to 64.
* It is vital people never prop pool gates open and there is always active adult supervision of young children around water.
* Coastal locations, such as beaches, oceans and coastal rocks, have seen a 26 per cent increase on the same time last year , claiming the lives of 29 people.
CEO of Royal Life Saving, Justin Scarr, said these shocking statistics were a reminder to always swim between the flags at patrolled beaches and during patrolled times.
