Drowning statistics reveal dangerous currents for grandparents

The generation who grew up on the words “gold, gold for Australia, gold” and “life’s a beach” are proving not as waterproof in their later years.

The National Drowning report found that a third of the record 357 people who drowned around Australia last year were older than 65. Boating accidents accounted for 14 per cent of deaths, but a third died swimming. It is a trend that has been evident for a decade, and while the fatalities reflect an ageing population and the fact that retirees spend more time in the water, the report said older people often lacked adequate water safety skills and knowledge and underestimated risk factors caused by health and medications.

Total drownings jumped by 24 deaths in 2024-25 to 357, which represented a 27 per cent increase on the 10-year average.

Drownings on beaches, at the ocean and rocks accounted for 43 per cent of deaths. In addition, 121 people died inland, in dams, rivers, creeks and lakes – up 23 per cent on the 10-year average. Pool deaths rose 6 per cent from the 10-year average to 25. NSW reported the most drowning deaths – 129 – up nearly 30 per cent on the 10-year average.

Men continued to be overrepresented, making up 81 per cent of total drowning deaths and 85 per cent of drowning deaths on beaches. People born overseas accounted for a third of deaths, consistent with the 10-year average. But most were residents of Australia. The highest number of people born overseas who drowned were those from Britain, China, India, Malaysia, Nepal and Papua New Guinea.

Royal Life Saving Australia chief executive Dr Justin Scarr said the unprecedented number of deaths was a wake-up call. “We have done a lot of work looking after our children, but I think the time is right to think about the safety of our parents and grandparents,” he said.

Despite successful efforts to protect youngsters, when they left primary school, the drowning rate rose. Among 15 to 24-year-olds, 44 people drowned – 38 per cent above the 10-year average. However, drownings among children under the age of five fell 21 per cent below the 10-year average, a reflection perhaps of the sense in mandatory pool fencing.

The National Drowning report also found swimming skills were at crisis levels, particularly for people without access to lessons and pools. It also delineated the role socio-economics plays in the water: drowning deaths in Australia were twice as high in the most disadvantaged areas compared with the richest; the rate was nearly three times higher in remote areas than cities.

Wealth and postcode should not determine access to lessons or a safe place to swim, and we have worked to make people at ease in water for years. Yet despite the millions of dollars spent on education and life-saving services, the increasing numbers of death by water suggest the message is still failing to hit home as many Australians remain nonchalant about their very real chances of drowning.

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