New confronting ads to be rolled out across NSW in a bid to end last summer’s drowning toll

CONFRONTING advertisements will be rolled out across the state in an effort to stop a repeat of last summer’s horror death toll where 41 people drowned in NSW, with 17 deaths in just nine days from Christmas to January 2.

CONFRONTING advertisements will be rolled out across the state in an effort to stop a repeat of last summer’s horror death toll.

The blitz on water safety will be unveiled by the state government today on the last day before school holidays begin and with temperatures set to soar.

Last summer 41 people drowned in NSW, with 17 deaths in just nine days from Christmas to January 2 — the highest drowning death-toll since the summer of 2008-2009. This included the tragic death of Tui Gallaher, 14, on December 27 at Maroubra Beach.

Tui Gallaher, 14, was one of the 17 deaths over the spate of nine days from Christmas last year to New Years. Picture: Supplied

Father-of-three Shaun Oliver, 32 tragically lost his life after swimming out to rescue two boys on a beach in Wollongong. Picture: Facebook

It also follows the death this week of a 21-year-old man at unpatrolled Tallow Beach in Byron Bay.

The advertisements depict the confronting white crosses seen on the roadside after deadly car crashes, but in a pool and river.

The government will also broadcast water safety warnings on the radio when temperatures spike above 27C for consecutive days.

Radio advertisements will also be translated into Mandarin, Arabic and Vietnamese.

This weekend temperature will hit a high of 32C in Sydney before climbing to 34C on Wednesday.

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The water safety advertisements will be rolled out across our TV screens this summer. Picture: Supplied

In response to the number of deaths last summer, the government commissioned a report by Royal Life Saving NSW which found 24 per cent of drownings occurred in beaches and pools while 34 per cent were in waterways such as rivers.

And the “vast majority” of drowning victims were not international or interstate visitors — debunking a common myth. About 50 per cent of the victims were from Sydney and 70 per cent drowned within 100km of where they lived.

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Emergency services and police minister Troy Grant called for people not to over-estimate their ability or underestimate conditions, noting the report found males were four times more likely to drown than women.

“Always supervise your children, stay sober if you’re swimming and where possible swim at patrolled locations. It only takes a moment to drown. Make this summer a safe one,” he said.

The report also found a lack of supervision of children under five years accounted for 15 per cent of drownings last summer.

Parents are urged to keep an extra eye on their children around the swimming pool as that is where most accidents occur.

“All of these accidents occurred around the home, most commonly in backyard swimming pools. While we know children need to be supervised in and around the water, it’s the momentary distractions, like checking mobiles for updates or answering the door, which prove deadly,” Mr Grant said.