Australia has recorded its highest number of drowning deaths since records began. In New South Wales alone, 129 people have drowned in the past year. Swim safety advocates say it's a wake-up call as the warmer weather approaches.
00:00From the coast to the urban centres, it's an Australian pastime that bears sobering statistics.
00:10357 people drowning across the last 12 months. It really is a wake-up call.
00:15The National Drowning Report shows a 27% increase on the 10-year average.
00:21Around the country, the rate of drowning deaths is still rising.
00:25In New South Wales, 129 people died. That's a 29% increase.
00:31While in Queensland, there was a 36% increase with 90 deaths.
00:36The biggest rise was in South Australia, an increase of over 70%.
00:41The iconic red and yellow flags cannot be at every creek and every dam and every billabong in this country.
00:48Every Australian needs to do their part.
00:51Overall, the rate doubled for those living in areas of disadvantage.
00:55More than a third of drowning deaths were people born overseas.
00:59The work that we need to do to be able to reach people from all backgrounds and all cultures is really important.
01:05This surge is being put down to a number of factors, like the decline in swimming skills, people heading to remote and unfamiliar swimming spots and an ageing population.
01:18One third of all drowning deaths were people over the age of 65 years old, prompting major concern as the warmer months approached.
01:28We've spent a lot of time looking at our children, keeping them safe. Now we need to look at our parents and our grandparents.
01:33A call to look out for loved ones, young and old.
01:37Now we need to look at our parents, it's still a popade and adults.
01:38We need to look at the children's fly.
01:39As they had kids crash into their dreams.
01:40We really need to look out for them, rather than Pastor Bailey.
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