Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Royal Life Saving report shows 100% rise in swimming pool drownings over summer

Royal Life Saving report shows 100% rise in swimming pool drownings over summer
March 5, 2025

Royal Life Saving Society - Australia has revealed that 104 lives were lost to drowning in waterways and swimming pools this summer - a 5% rise on the previous summer and a 14% increase on the five-year average.

The National Summer Drowning Toll, produced by Royal Life Saving, showed that one-third (32%) of all summer drowning deaths were people aged 55 years and over while 10 children (aged under 14 years) drowned this summer. Males represented 81% of the drowning total.

NSW recorded the highest number of drowning deaths (33), followed by Victoria (22), Queensland (22), and Western Australia (15). 

Approximately one third each occurred at beaches (32%) and rivers (30%). River drowning increased by 29%. Swimming pool drowning deaths (11) doubled compared to last summer.

Two-thirds (64%) of drowning deaths occurred in regional areas. Regional communities experience higher rates of drowning, due to greater exposure to natural waters, and reduced access to safe places to swim.

Alarmed by the increase in drowning deaths while emphasising the need for long-term investments into drowning prevention measures, Royal Life Saving Chief Executive, Dr Justin Scarr advised “this summer was tragic in so many ways. Too many families and communities have been affected by drowning. The figures reinforce long held concerns that many Australians lack the swimming skills to enjoy the water safely.”

Royal Life Saving notes that swimming skills in children have declined over recent years pointing to thousands of children missing lessons due to the pandemic. It also cites increased migration, especially from nations where learning to swim is rare, that sees many people unable to swim or know what to do in an emergency, putting themselves at risk of drowning.

Royal Life Saving is calling for a focus on four actions to combat drowning:

1. Nationally co-ordinated investments to boost the swimming and lifesaving skills of children and young people, especially those aged 10-14 years who can’t yet swim 50 metres and float for 2 minutes.

2. Large scale programs supporting refugee and migrant communities, delivered at local pools in partnership with community groups, to build water safety skills and aid in community cohesion.

3. Expansion of local water safety planning and coordination, as outlined in the Australian Water Safety Strategy, so that communities can unite to implement localised solutions.

4. Strategic infrastructure investment plan to build and refurbish community swimming pools and learn to swim centres, to meet the changing needs of communities in growing cities and regional areas, and to ensure that those most likely to miss out have access to a safe place to swim.

Scarr added “investment in community swimming pools has always been a key part of Australia’s approach to water safety and drowning prevention. More is needed to meet the medium-term impacts of ageing pools, changing demographics, and growth in our outer metropolitan suburbs and regional areas.”

Royal Life Saving Summer Drowning Toll
Royal Life Saving’s Summer Drowning Toll dashboard was updated daily over the summer (1st December 2024 to 28th February 2025). This dashboard presents timeline comparisons and several data variables by state.

Click here to view the Royal Life Saving Summer Drowning Report.

Related Articles

4th March 2025 - Royal Life Saving invites input to National Aquatic Industry Workforce Survey 2025

3rd March 2025 - New Surf Life Saving Australia data shows increased drowning risk on public holidays

28th February 2025 - Royal Life Saving research shows millions of Australians missing out on access to public pools

21st February 2025 - Royal Life Saving welcomes Commonwealth investments in community pools

22nd January 2025 - Royal Life Saving condemns assaults on pool lifeguards

6th January 2025 - Royal Life Saving to stage symposium on future of aquatic facilities

28th December 2024 - Drowning deaths rise over ‘deadliest week’ of the Christmas holidays

11th December 2024 - Life Saving Victoria latest drowning report reveals death spike among young and multicultural Victorians

29th November 2024 - Royal Life Saving Australia launches 7th Edition Swimming & Lifesaving manual

26th November 2024 - Inquest into toddler’s drowning death at remote Northern Territory pool reveals extensive failures by MacDonnell Regional Council

23rd October 2024 - Royal Life Saving encourages aquatic facility managers to adopt key health and safety guidelines and regulations

16th October 2024 - Royal Life Saving launches new fatal drowning dashboard

3rd October 2024 - Royal Life Saving Queensland set to introduce AI-enhanced drowning detection systems training

3rd September 2024 - Royal Life Saving supports new Australian Standard for home swimming pool safety

20th August 2024 - Drowning levels continue to increase despite ever increasing resources

25th July 2024 - Royal Life Saving highlights importance of World Drowning Prevention Day

24th July 2024 - Belgravia Leisure aquatic venues to turn blue for World Drowning Prevention Day

23rd July 2024 - Gold Coast aquatic centres achieve platinum endorsement from Royal Life Saving

5th March 2024 - Pool operator pleads guilty to safety breaches over child drowning at Port Fairy Community Pool

28th February 2024 - Aquatic Industry event highlights achievements of drowning prevention campaigns

25th January 2024 - Victoria’s deadliest drowning tragedy in almost 20 years claims four lives

24th January 2024 - Royal Life Saving calls on men to ‘make the right call’ after alarming rise in summer drownings


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

Momentus Technologies

About: Momentus Technologies is a global provider of industry-leading venue and event management solutions that empower organizations to create extraordinary moments. With over 50,000 users in more…

read more

Entertainment / Events / Hospitality / Technology / Venues

 
 

Sportybots

We are the leading providers of kids fun multi-sports programs for Sport and Recreation Centres. Programs cover twelve common sports as well as Gross Motor Skill Development and suit children from as…

read more

Fitness / Play / Recreation / Sport / Wellness

 
 

PlayRope

Playrope Aqua-Fun, are the Australian & New Zealand exclusive distributors for Vortex Aquatic Structures International, the world leader in aquatic playgrounds and urban water landscapes.…

read more

Aquatics / Attractions / Parks / Play / Recreation

 
 

HIDROPLAY

Hidroplay welcomes you to the exciting world of children's Playscapes, waterslide's and Water Attractions. Appealing to families, Hidroplay increases patronage in your facility during those…

read more

Aquatics / Play / Recreation

 
 

SeatGeek Asia Pacific

SeatGeek is a search engine and mobile-focused ticket marketplace that allows fans to buy and sell tickets for live events. As of August 2018, SeatGeek has exited the Australian, New…

read more

Entertainment / Sport / Technology / Ticketing / Venues

 
 

Polin Waterparks

Polin was founded in Istanbul in 1976, and has since grown into a leading company in the waterparks industry. Today Polin is one of the world leaders in the design, production, and installation of…

read more

Aquatics / Attractions / Play / Waterparks

 
 

SimplySwim

    SimplySwim is a school management solution that helps swimming school owners and managers optimize operations by automating functions such as managing class schedules, billing and…

read more

Aquatics / Education / Recreation / Safety / Technology

 
 

InterQuad (International Quadratics) 

InterQuad (International Quadratics)  With a combined legacy spanning over 150 years, International Quadratics (founded in 1976) and Pierce Pool Supplies (originally established in 1898 as A H…

read more

Aquatics / Safety / Technology / Waterparks

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business