NSW Coastal drowning deaths increase in summer 2017/2018

There were two coastal drownings between Windang and Stanwell Park from December 1 to February 28 (one at Sandon Point and another at Port Kembla) compared to just one the previous. While SLS Illawarra recorded 262 surf rescues on Sundays and public holidays over summer, 53 more than the entire season of 2016/17.

“Most drownings have occurred at unpatrolled locations and we want to reinforce the message that to keep yourself and your family safe, we need everyone to swim between the red and yellow flags,” said Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steven Pearce.

NSW coastal areas claimed 21 lives this summer, compared to 14 the previous. With another 14 deaths at inland waterways (rivers, creeks, dams and lakes) and one swimming pool drowning.

For the financial year to date there were 30 coastal drownings in NSW, four of them in the Illawarra. There were only two in the Illawarra during the 2016-17 year. Of that, 80 per cent of victims were male, with the highest risk age group 25-34.

Illawarra Life Saving Illawarra duty officer Anthony Turner said it was concerning and urged beach goers to stick to patrolled beaches and swim between the flags.

Volunteer Surf Life Savers will continue to patrol beaches until the end of the season on April 29. North Wollongong beach is the only Wollongong beach to be patrolled throughout winter.

Later this year Royal Life Saving NSW will release a more detailed analysis of drowning deaths over summer including at our beaches, waterways and swimming pools.

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