Drowning
National drowning and safety research reports.
- National Drowning Report 2025,, opens in a new tab Royal Life Saving Australia, (August 2025). The current report states that 357 people drowned in Australian waterways during the 2024-2025 financial year. This figure represents a 27% increase to the 10-year average. Previous annual reports are available on the website, opens in a new tab.
- Injury in Australia: drowning and submersion,, opens in a new tab Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), (updated 24 June 2025). This report summarises key data on unintentional (accidental) drowning and submersion hospitalised injuries and deaths.
- Summer Coastal Drowning Report 2024-25,, opens in a new tab Surf Life Saving Australia, (1 March 2025). In 2024-25, there were 51 coastal drowning deaths across the summer season, 92% of which were male, and 73% on beaches. The peak summer holiday periods, specifically between Christmas Eve to New Years Day and the Australia Day long weekend, recorded 27% of summer coastal drowning deaths. 38% of beach drowning was rip-related. 61% occurred >1km from a Surf Life Saving service. During the 2024-25 summer season, Surf Life Saving Australia services conducted 5,522 rescues, treated 45,555 people for first aid and performed 1,316,050 preventative actions.
- Review of the Water and Snow Safety Program and the Surf Life Saving Australia Training Measure,, opens in a new tab Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, (November 2024). This report includes findings from the review of the Water and Snow Safety Program (WSSP) and the Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) Training Measure. The review investigated the appropriateness, effectiveness, and efficiency of the WSSP and SLSA training measure from 2020-21 to 2023-24.
- National Coastal Safety Report 2024,, opens in a new tab Surf Life Saving Australia, (September 2024). In 2023-2024, the number of coastal drowning deaths in Australia increased to 150 from 123 in 2022/23. 56% of coast drowning deaths occurred on beaches, and 19% offshore. 86% of people who drowned were male. An additional 108 coastal deaths (from non-drowning causes) were recorded. 100% of coastal drowning deaths occurred away from patrolled areas. During the past 12 months, Surf Life Saving and Australian Lifeguard services conducted 8,857 rescues, treated 49,331 people for first aid, and performed 2,482,013 preventative actions.
- Drowning Among Multicultural Communities in Australia: An update 2013/14 to 2022/23,, opens in a new tab Pidgeon, S., Royal Life Saving Australia, (2024). Approximately 34% drowning deaths in Australia are of people born overseas. Overall, 6% of total drowning deaths are of international visitors. For every 1 fatal drowning, it is estimated that there are 3 nonfatal drowning incidents. This increases for children aged 0-4 years to 8 non-fatal drowning incidents for every fatal drowning among this age group. Over the past 20 years, there has been an overall reduction of 26% in drowning deaths in Australia, most notably among young children (0-4 years). As of June 2023, Australia’s population now comprises of over 8 million people were born overseas, approximately 31% of the total Australian population. The most common countries of birth are: England, India, China and New Zealand. Changes in migration patterns to Australia over the past decade are now reflective in the drowning data. When calculating crude drowning rates based on 100,000 residential population (7), people born overseas drowned at a higher rate than those born in Australia (1.28 compared to 0.93).
- Analysis of fatal unintentional drowning in Australia 2008–2020: implications for the Australian Water Safety Strategy,, opens in a new tab Amy Peden, Justin-Paul Scarr, Alison Mahony, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Volume 45(3), pp.248-254, (June 2021). A national analysis of unintentional fatal drowning rates per 100,000 population over 16 years (2004/05–2019/20) was conducted. Baseline rates (three-year average 2004/05–2006/07) were compared to the current three-year average (2017/18–2019/20) by sex, age group, drowning location and jurisdiction. The overall rate of unintentional fatal drowning during the period decreased by 28%. Substantial reductions were observed in children 0–4 years (−63%) and 5–14 years (−56%). Progress has been less pronounced among people aged 75 years and over (−11%) and 15–24-year-olds (−14%). All locations and jurisdictions recorded reductions, aside from rocks (+46%). Although the strategy fell short of its aspirational target of a 50% reduction in drowning by the year 2020, this target was exceeded in key age groups, including children.
- Epidemiology of unintentional fatal drowning among migrants in Australia,, opens in a new tab Stacey Willcox-Pidgeon, Richard Franklin, Peter Leggat, et.al., Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Volume 45(3), pp.255-262, (June 2021). This study aimed to describe the epidemiology and risk factors contributing to drowning among migrants in Australia. There were 572 migrant deaths over the study period, 28.9% of total drowning deaths, 82.9% were male. Twenty-one per cent were aged 25–34 years and 40.8% had lived in Australia for 20+ years. Migrants at highest risk of drowning were from: South Korea (2.63/100,000), Taiwan (2.29/100,000), and Nepal (2.15/100,000). Migrants were more likely to drown when around rocks compared with Australian-born people, who most frequently drowned in rivers. Migrants are not over-represented in drowning statistics. However, unique trends were found for drowning among migrants based on country of birth and length of time in Australia.
- Non-Fatal Drowning in Australia, Part 1: Non-fatal drowning trends over time,, opens in a new tab Mahony, A, Pidgeon, S., Royal Life Saving Society – Australia, (2021). This study examines hospitalisations in Australia over a 15-year period, revealing trends in sex, age, location, remoteness classification and activity. Some key findings include: 3 non-fatal drowning incidents occur for every 1 fatal drowning. 8 non-fatal drowning incidents occur for every 1 fatal drowning among children aged 0-4 years. Over the 15 years of the study, males accounted for 66% of all non-fatal drowning cases. Swimming pools were the leading location for non-fatal drowning (35%), followed by natural water (26%). The location of non-fatal drowning was classified as ‘other or unspecified’ in 32% of cases. Almost two thirds of non-fatal drowning incidents occurred in major cities (65%). Information on remoteness was not available in 5% of cases
- Drowning deaths among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: A 10-year analysis 2008/09 to 2017/18,, opens in a new tab Royal Life Saving Australia, (2020). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are considered to be at higher risk of drowning. This report presents an analysis of fatal drowning among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia between 1st July 2008 and 30th June 2018. During this time, 152 people lost their lives to drowning.
- Exploring the burden of fatal drowning and data characteristics in three high income countries: Australia, Canada and New Zealand,, opens in a new tab Amy E. Peden, Richard C. Franklin, Tessa Clemens, BMC Public Health, Volume 19, article 794, (June 2019). There were 8176 drowning deaths (Australia 34.1%, Canada 55.9%, New Zealand 9.9%). All countries achieved reductions in crude drowning rates (Australia − 10.2%, Canada − 20.4%, New Zealand − 24.7%). Location and activity prior to drowning differed significantly across the three countries. Beaches and ocean/harbour locations were common in Australia and New Zealand, while lakes/ponds and bathtubs were common drowning locations in Canada. Boating prior to drowning was common in Canada. This study highlights the need for universally agreed and consistently applied categories and definitions to allow for global comparisons and proposes a core minimum dataset.
- Unintentional fatal child drowning in the bath: A 12-year Australian review (2002–2014), opens in a new tab, Amy E Peden, Richard C Franklin, John H Pearn, Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, Volume 54(3), pp.153-159, (February 2018). We report a total population study of all childhood (0–17 years) unintentional drowning fatalities in baths (bathtubs, spa baths and showers) in Australia between 1 July 2002 and 30 June 2014. Demographic, forensic and aetiological data (including co-bathing, use of bath aids, supervision and enactment of cardiopulmonary resuscitation) were documented for each victim. On average, 6.5 children drown every year in baths in Australia. Children aged younger than 1 year are most affected, with both genders equally represented. Infants and toddlers left unsupervised, false confidence in the preventive role of bath aids, unrealistic expectations in the supervisory capabilities of co-bathing children and epilepsy remain threats to children in the bath.
- The Hidden Tragedy of Rivers: A Decade of Unintentional Fatal Drowning in Australia,, opens in a new tab Amy E. Peden, Richard C. Franklin, Peter A. Leggat, PLOS One, (August 2016). This study is a cross-sectional, total population audit of all unintentional fatal drownings in Australian rivers between 1-July-2002 and 30-June-2012 using Australian coronial data. Rivers (n = 770; 26.6%) were the leading location among the 2,892 people who died from unintentional fatal drowning. Within river drowning deaths common groups include; males (80.4%), adults (85.3%), adults who have consumed alcohol (25.5%), people who fell in (21.3%), people involved in non-aquatic transport incidents (18.2%) and locals (74.0%). Children were 1.75 times more likely than adults to drown in rivers as a result of a fall and adults 1.50 times more likely to drown in rivers as a result of watercraft incidents when compared to children. When compared to males, females were 2.27 and 4.45 times respectively more likely to drown in rivers as a result of incidents involving non-aquatic transport and being swept away by floodwaters. Males were 2.66 and 4.27 times respectively more likely to drown in rivers as a result of watercraft incidents and as a result of jumping in when compared to females.
- International travelers and unintentional fatal drowning in Australia—a 10 year review 2002–12,, opens in a new tab Amy Peden, Richard Franklin, Peter Leggat, Journal of Travel Medicine, Volume 23(2), (March 2016). Between 1 July 2002 and 30 June 2012 drowning deaths among people known to be international travelers accounted for 4.3% (N = 123) of the 2870 drowning deaths reported in Australian waterways. Key locations for drowning deaths included beaches (39.0%), ocean/harbour (22.0%) and swimming pools (12.2%). Leading activities prior to drowning included swimming (52.0%), diving (17.9%) and watercraft incidents (13.0%).
- Drowning in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and adolescents in Queensland (Australia),, opens in a new tab Belinda Wallis, Kerrianne Watt, Richard Franklin, et al., BMC Public Health, Volume 15, Article number: 795, (2015). This study identifies the previously unpublished incidence and characteristics of fatal and non-fatal drowning in Indigenous children and adolescents. There were 87 (6.7 % of all events) fatal and non-fatal (combined) Indigenous drowning events yielding a crude Incidence Rate of 16.8/100,000/annum. This is 44 % higher than the incidence rate for Non-Indigenous children. For every fatality, nine others were rescued and sought medical treatment (average 12 per year). The apparent over-representation of Indigenous adolescent females should be weighed against the absence of drowning among Indigenous male adolescents in the same age group in consecutive years of the study. Further investigation around behaviour and culture may highlight protective factors.
- Drowning Mortality and Morbidity Rates in Children and Adolescents 0-19yrs: A Population-Based Study in Queensland, Australia,, opens in a new tab Belinda Wallis, Kerrianne Watt, Richard Franklin, et al., PLOS One, (February 2015). Retrospective population-based study used data linkage to capture both fatal and non-fatal drowning cases (N = 1299) among children aged 0-19years in Queensland, from 2002-2008 inclusive. Patient data were accessed from pre-hospital, emergency department, hospital admission and death data, and linked manually to collate data across the continuum of care. Drowning death to survival ratio was 1:10, and two out of three of those who survived were admitted to hospital. Incidence rates for fatal and non-fatal drowning increased over time, primarily due to an increase in non-fatal drowning. There were non-significant reductions in fatal and admission rates. Rates for non-fatal drowning that did not result in hospitalisation more than doubled over the seven years. Children aged 5-9yrs and 10-14yrs incurred the lowest incidence rates 6.38 and 4.62 (expressed as per 100,000), and the highest rates were among children aged 0-4yrs (all drowning events 43.90; fatal 4.04; non-fatal 39.85–comprising admission 26.69 and non-admission 13.16). Males were over-represented in all age groups except 10-14yrs. Total male drowning events increased 44% over the seven years. This state-wide data collection has revealed previously unknown incidence and survival ratios. Increased trends in drowning survival rates may be viewed as both positive and challenging for drowning prevention and the health system. Males are over-represented, and although infants and toddlers did not have increased fatality rates, they had the greatest drowning burden demonstrating the need for continued drowning prevention efforts.
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