The faces of Victoria’s drowning tragedies

Seven Victorians have lost their lives in the water this summer, with 48 deaths nationally. These are the faces of our drowning tragedies.

Victorians keen to cool off as the mercury rises this weekend are being urged to play it safe around the water with the state’s drowning toll at seven since mid-December, and 48 people drowning nationally this summer.

NSW has also seen a horror start to the year with 13 drowning deaths, including three over a two-day period this past week.

A 19-year-old St Albans man drowned while swimming with mates at Cumberland River Beach, near Lorne, on Christmas Day, while 17-year-old Pakenham teenager Nick Maan and a man in his 30s drowned in two separate incidents - at Mordialloc Beach and Lake Hume - on Boxing Day.

A five-year-old girl, Alison Johns, also tragically drowned in Lake Nagambie on December 27.

In the most recent drowning, a 39-year-old man died after disappearing under the water at Aire River, Glenaire, on January 24.

Speaking earlier this month, Life Saving Victoria state agency commander Kane Treloar warned those entering the water to be vigilant in order to avoid further heartbreak.

The weather in Melbourne is forecast to reach a top temperature of 27C on Friday, 35C on Saturday and 23C on Sunday.

Nick Maan, 17, Jack Bird, 16 and Alison Johns, 5 are among the seven people who have drowned in Victoria since mid-December, 2022.

“While holidays are a time people are eager to relax, the one thing you can never relax on is water safety,” Mr Treloar said.

“Despite our best efforts and planning, we can’t be everywhere at once.

“At the end of the day, the onus for safety lies with the individual, and it’s up to each person to make safe decisions around water.”

Youth Activating Youth chief executive and multicultural leader Ahmed Hassan said the summer period highlighted the importance of swimming skills.

“It’s absolutely vital that everyone has swimming lessons, especially those who don’t know how to swim, even if they’re at an adult age,” he said.

“More people now than ever need to learn about water safety and tips of what to do in dangerous events and difficult circumstances. People need to not feel ashamed but instead come forward and learn water safety.

“There needs to be more advertising and targeted campaigns. They need to be delivered through community groups and organisations.

“There also needs to be practical ways of implementing these initiatives through real life lessons and classes at the beach or pool.”

Originally published as The faces of Victoria’s drowning tragedies