Source : Perth Now news
A family sets out on a country drive, a group of mates embark on a boat trip, or a couple go on a quiet coastal walk.
While summer outings end well in the vast majority of cases, it is these kinds of seemingly innocuous activities behind Australia’s grim mass drowning toll.
There were 14 multi-fatality drowning events with a total of 30 deaths in 2025/26, the highest number in almost a decade, according to a Royal Life Saving Australia report released on Tuesday.
Multi-fatalities were usually related to boating, driving through floodwater, or people exploring unfamiliar environments, chief executive Justin Scarr said.
“Unfortunately it’s families that have set off in a boat together, or gone on a drive, or something as simple as a coastal walk … and this has a really profound impact on those people,” Dr Scarr told AAP.
“The message is to know the swimming skills of all the people in your group.”
It is the largest spike in deaths during multiple fatality events on Australian waters since 2016/17, when 34 lives were lost.
Over the past decade there have been 103 events, with 229 deaths, or an average of 23 per year.
In the most recent year, 83 per cent of drowning victims were men, 37 per cent were born overseas and a quarter were aged between 65 and 74.
Nearly one-third of the fatal events were related to boating, while driving through floodwater and swimming were the other leading circumstances.
Emergency services were bracing for more drownings, with extreme weather and heat forecast in coming months, Dr Scarr said.
“It’s a perfect storm this summer.
“People (need to) understand the flood risk, particularly given changing climatic conditions.”
Those setting out on boating trips should be prepared with life jackets and a clear understanding of the weather conditions, Dr Scarr said.
And while Australians may assume drownings were limited to beaches and backyard pools, rivers and dams posed unique drowning risks.
The inland waterways can have hidden debris, steep drop-offs and strong undertows.
It also only takes a minimal amount of water to float a car on a flooded roadway, Dr Scarr said.
“People are constantly caught out in rivers and dams,” he said.
“They overestimate their abilities and underestimate just how hazardous they can be, and that relates to boating as much to swimming and crossing flooded roadways.”
Alcohol, drugs and pre-existing medical conditions were also drowning risk factors, the report said.
The organisation urged improved flood safety messaging, awareness of carrying and maintaining life jackets on boats and continued public education about supervising children near water.
“Quite often people end up having to initiate a rescue of a family member,” Dr Scarr said of multiple fatality events.
“That is a very, very difficult and challenging circumstance.”
