By Tamara Watson
Publication Date: 2026-01-04 17:12:00
This year, drowning deaths in Australia reached their worst level in three decades. Tragically, 357 drownings were reported between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025, with many additional incidents that were not fatal.
The number of drowning deaths in Australia has risen sharply due to a “crisis” decline in swimming skills, particularly among regional, remote and migrant communities.
Swimming on unpatrolled beaches and inland waterways that typically lack lifeguard services has also contributed to these deadly trends. The same goes for rock fishing.
With people now out of work and enjoying summer vacation, the risk of drowning is even higher than normal.
Education and awareness remain proven methods to reduce the death toll from drowning.
For example, Surf Life Saving Australia’s virtual Beach Passport Campaign this summer allows the public to easily find patrolled beaches. But water safety experts also work with computer scientists to harness the power of algorithms and…
