The Royal Life Saving Society, Australia is alarmed at the rise in drownings in waterways around the country. With 314 people dying in a year the figures are at a seven year high. 80% of these were males. The Society noted a 27% rise in the numbers since 2002.
What is perhaps most horrifying is that half of the children who drown are under four years of age and die in backyard pools.
People over 55 represent a third of all drownings and the report says that is likely to increase because older people are combining alcohol with boating and water sports.
According to Life Saving CEO Rob Bradley many elderly people are not as fit as they think they are. “Older people do overestimate their ability. They think about what they could do in their youth and their skills and their fitness levels have obviously dropped…So they must be much more cautious about the positions that they put themselves in and they must be even more conscious of their limitations.”
People residing in rural areas are twice at risk of drowning than people in the city. Drowning in rural areas were more in lakes, dams and lagoons than rivers and creeks, with the Northern Territory having the highest number of deaths per capita.
Queensland vulnerability to floods and heavy rainfalls has also taken its toll in the rise of these figures said Michael Darben from Royal Life Saving Queensland.