Spike in drownings sparks call for urgent response
Dozens of people have lost their lives across Australia already this summer prompting calls for the government to renew an education program and announce more funding for beach patrols.
Australia is in the grip of a drowning epidemic, with 51 people losing their lives in waterways across the nation since summer started less than five weeks ago.
The number of victims of the silent killer since December 1 has jumped 54 per cent compared with last year.
And with a forecast heatwave predicted to sends millions to beaches over the holidays, officials fear the death toll is sure to rise further.
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“The figures are horrifying. I don’t believe the education programs the government are doing are working,” Australian Professional Ocean Lifeguard Association president Greg Hackfath told The Saturday Telegraph.
Mr Hackfath was among a team of lifesavers who responded when an Indian family got into trouble at a beach near Coffs Harbour on December 17. Three men drowned when they entered the surf to help three children, who survived.
Mr Hackfath said extra funding was urgently needed to pay for more professional lifeguards on the beaches. “They have got to start throwing money at local government,” he said. “Professional lifeguards are the one who have the know-how.”
And parents needed to take a more active role in looking after their children.
“We’re not babysitters. Parents need to watch their kids as well.”
Since summer began on December 1, 14 people have drowned in NSW alone, and the NSW Ambulance Service has attended 146 water emergencies.
Last year, 87 people drowned in NSW, making it the deadliest state for deaths in the water.
On December 17, three male relatives — Ghouseddin Mohammed, 45, Syed Rahath, 35, and Junaid Mohammed, 28 — died at Moonee Beach after jumping into the surf in a bid to rescue younger family members who were caught in a rip and heavy swells.
It was the tragic end of a holiday for the family from western Sydney and relatives visiting from India.
Just five days later, a 60-year-old Swiss man drowned at the same beach. And at Clovelly beach, South Korean immigrant Peter Lim drowned on New Year’s Day.
Drownings occurred this summer in NSW waterways of all kinds: the Colo, Georges, Hawkesbury and Richmond rivers, Lake Conjola, Botany Bay, Little and Marley beaches and a backyard pool.
Royal Life Saving Society National research co-ordinator Amy Peden said Australia’s beaches were a huge attraction to locals as well as tourists, especially during hot weather. But the ocean was also a dangerous place, particularly for people inexperienced in dealing with surf or who are poor swimmers.
“We’ve been doing a lot to get the message to our multicultural communities,” she said. “We are continually trying to improve our efforts each year.”
APOLA national secretary John Andrews agreed that immigrants and non-English speakers were missing out on crucial water safety programs.
“If there’s this continued thinking that there are only a number of groups who need water safety education, too many groups fall through the cracks,” Mr Andrews said.
Mr Hackfath said many migrants are unaware of the deadly risks many Australian beaches pose because “they’ve never been exposed to this sort of stuff.”
Ten per cent of drowning deaths nationally this summer occurred in backyard pools, according to the Royal Life Saving Summer Drowning Toll, including a 19-month-old boy who was found floating facedown in a pool in Port Stephens on December 16.
Federal Local Government Minister Bridget McKenzie said that the number of drownings this summer was unacceptably high.
She said the federal government had boosted funding for safety measures, providing $36.9 million over three years to support national organisations to protect lives.
“The Liberal Nationals government is committed to reducing deaths by drowning,” Ms McKenzie said.
“Every death that could be avoided is a tragedy. It’s up to every Australian and visitor to recognise that water of any kind does hold risk and to make sure that we minimise those risks.”
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