Australia has recorded the highest number of drowning deaths since records began, prompting urgent warnings from Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia as summer approaches.
The National Drowning Report 2025 identifies 357 drowning deaths in the past year, which was 27 per cent higher than the 10-year average.
Drowning deaths of children under five fell to 15 fatalities, 21 per cent below the 10-year average, and half in home swimming pools. Pool owners are urged to check that their pool fence and pool gate is in good working order.
The lowest drowning rates were of children aged 5-14 years. The drowning rate rose 4-fold for 15–24-year-olds, where 44 people drowned, 38 per cemt above the 10-year average. Poor swimming skills are a major factor.
One third of all drowning deaths were adults aged 65 and older (118). This may be attributable to the effects of other health conditions, use of medications and declining swimming skills, on safety around water.
Coastal locations (beaches, ocean, rocks) accounted for 154 deaths, with beaches alone claiming 82 lives. Swimming, fishing and visiting unpatrolled locations remain high risk activities in coastal environments.
Inland waterways (rivers, lakes and dams) accounted for 122 deaths (34 per cent), including 99 in rivers, where hidden currents, steep drop-offs, and flooding are common hazards.
Drowning rates doubled for those living in the most disadvantages areas and nearly tripled in regional and remote areas compared to major cities. More than a third of drowning deaths were people born overseas.
Call for action
The National Drowning Report, released yesterday at Parliament House in Canberra, provides sobering analysis that underscores the impact of drowning and prompts an urgent call for action ahead of the forecast warmer and wetter summer.
Royal Life Saving Australia, CEO, Dr Justin Scarr said, ‘This is a wake-up call. Drowning deaths have surged to unprecedented levels. The decline in swimming skills, an ageing population, and more people heading to remote and unfamiliar locations away from lifesaving services are causing concern.
‘Half of all children leave primary school unable to swim 50 metres and float for 2 minutes, causing lifelong risk. To reverse this tragic drowning trend, every Australian, regardless of postcode or background, must have access to swimming lessons, a great local swimming pool or a safe place to swim,’ said Dr Scarr.
Surf Life Saving Australia, CEO, Adam Weir said, ‘Coastal drowning remains a major concern, with beaches, ocean and rocks accounting for 43 per cent of the national drowning burden. Rip currents are Australia’s number one coastal hazard, responsible for more than 1 in 3 beach drowning deaths – claiming more lives than sharks, floods, or cyclones combined.
‘Never have our surf lifesavers and lifeguards worked harder to keep people safe at beaches, with almost 2.2 million preventative actions and over 8,000 rescues. More is being asked of surf lifesavers and lifeguards, as beach usage continues to grow and people explore a wider range of coastal locations.’
Water safety
Federal Minister for Communications and Minister for Sport Anika Wells said, ‘The Albanese government has provided more than $34 million over two years as part of a suite of sport safety measures to raise awareness for water safety and drowning prevention.
‘In partnership with organisations like Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia, we are committed to addressing water safety by encouraging all Australians to take simple precautions around pools and waterways.
‘The messages are simple; supervise children, learn to swim, prioritise water safety and lifesaving skills, wear a lifejacket when boating, and always swim between the red and yellow flags,’ said Minister Wells said.
Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia explain the surge in drowning as being driven by:
- More people are going further into national parks and regional areas. Climate and lifestyle shifts are increasing time around water, especially in autumn and spring, as well as early and late in the day.
- Swimming skills are at crisis levels, with many children failing to meet national benchmarks; gaps are widening for regional, remote, and migrant communities, creating lifelong vulnerabilities to drowning.
- An ageing population is impacting on drowning. A lifelong love of water activity, combined with other health conditions, medications and reduced mobility, is increasing unexpected falls into water.
- Disadvantaged, multicultural, regional and remote populations are most likely to miss out on learning to swim, have poorer access to a safe place to swim and remain overrepresented in drowning.
Strategy
In July, Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia convened a National Water Safety Summit in July to address the surge in drowning.
As a result, the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030 is being adjusted to promote the strengthening of swimming and water safety skills for all, emphasise local water safety efforts, and encourage greater alignment of water safety policy across all levels and sectors of government.
To keep your family safe this summer, both organisations advise people to:
- Always supervise children around water .
- Learn swimming, water safety and lifesaving skills .
- Wear a lifejacket when boating, rock fishing or paddling .
- Swim at a patrolled beach between the red and yellow flags .
- Avoid alcohol and drugs around water .
- Check the conditions, including weather forecasts.
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