Complacency around water one of ‘biggest dangers’ to swimmers

Australians are being urged to be aware of the conditions of where they choose to swim this summer after 235 coastal deaths were recorded around the country last year.

SLSA’s General Manager Coastal Safety Shane Daw told Sky News one of the biggest risks for swimmers was complacency, urging people to be aware of their surroundings before entering the water.

“It doesn’t matter where it is, what we’ve found is that drowning deaths and other coastal fatalities can happen almost in any spot of Australia,” he said.

Mr Daw said last year saw the fourth highest number of drowning deaths in the past 16 years.

Males between the ages of 15 and 36 were also found to be the largest percentage in drownings, with alcohol involved in about 23 per cent of all drownings.