<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/" rel="" target="_blank" title="Australia"><span>Australia</span></a><span> has broken a tragic record over the past year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The National Drowning Report released today has found the country had its highest number of drowning deaths since records began.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Over the last 12 months, a staggering 357 people have died from drowning.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/erin-patterson-dangerous-inmate-only-cell-contact-for-mushroom-killer/9a992bf7-c2d3-4578-bb08-514649c9a4b5" target="_blank"><strong><span>Dangerous inmate only cell contact for mushroom killer</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This is 27 per cent higher than the 10-year average, according to Royal Life Saving and Surf Life Saving.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The drowning rate for people aged between 15 and 24 recorded the biggest spike, with 44 people in this age group drowning – an increase of 38 per cent against the 10-year average.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The lowest rate of drowning was for children aged between five and 14 years.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/record-number-of-drownings-australia-national-drowning-report/3ef56d5b-0b75-43c0-9612-70477d91aaa3" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And one third of all drowning deaths were adults aged over 65.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is a wake-up call," Royal Life Saving Australia chief executive Justin Scarr said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Drowning deaths have surged to unprecedented levels.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The decline in swimming skills, an ageing population, and more people heading to remote and unfamiliar locations away from lifesaving services are causing concern."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia blamed the surge on more tourism in national parks and regional areas, along with climate and lifestyle shifts.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It noted gaps in swimming ability are widening for regional, remote, and migrant communities, creating "lifelong vulnerabilities to drowning".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Rip currents remain Australia's number one coastal hazard, responsible for more than 1one in three beach drowning deaths - claiming more lives than sharks, floods, or cyclones combined," Surf Live Saving chief executive Adam Weir said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Never have our surf lifesavers and lifeguards worked harder to keep people safe at beaches, with almost 2.2 million preventative actions and over 8000 rescues.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"More is being asked of surf lifesavers and lifeguards, as beach usage continues to grow and people explore a wider range of coastal locations."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-post-united-states-usa-parcel-suspension-donald-trump-tariff/52615197-11c5-4e00-98f0-d0f576ba7159" target="_blank"><strong><span>Australia Post suspends deliveries to the US after Trump tariffs</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Coastal locations accounted for 154 of the deaths, with beaches claiming 82 lives.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Another 122 people died while drowning at inland waterways, including 99 in rivers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The report found drowning rates doubled for people living in disadvantaged areas and nearly tripled in regional and remote areas compared to major cities.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Drownings increased in every state and territory except Tasmania and in the Northern Territory.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-suggests-us-may-like-a-dictator-in-threat-to-send-troops-to-chicago/6183008e-4f74-4774-b44b-f9bf0b7406c2" target="_blank"><strong><span>'A lot' of Americans would 'like a dictator', Trump says</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There was only one drowning death in the ACT in the past year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The biggest increase was in South Australia, where drowning deaths were a 71 per cent increase on the 10-year average.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Federal Minister for Communications and Minister for Sport Anika Wells said the government has poured $34 million into addressing water safety.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The messages are simple; supervise children, learn to swim, prioritise water safety and lifesaving skills, wear a lifejacket when boating, and always swim between the red and yellow flags," Wells said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/9stories/increase-in-drowning-deaths-australia-prompting-water-safety-measures-ahead-of-summer/5c3fbdcd-ea1c-42b7-9e24-3ee0f944c742#:~:text=The%20release%20of%20The%20National,swimming%20deaths%20across%20the%20country." rel="" target="_blank" title="In 2024, the same report recorded 323 drowning deaths"><span>In 2024, the same report recorded 323 drowning deaths</span></a><strong><span>,</span></strong><span> 14 per cent higher than the previous year's figures</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>