More than 100 deaths each year on Gold Coast a worrying trend

A MAN has drowned in a Gold Coast backyard pool, adding to more than 350 people who have either drowned or nearly drowned on the Gold Coast in three years.

Tallebudgera Creek has been identified as a hotspot in the Surf Life Saving rescue statistics, Neptune Royal Life Saving members Clive Newman and Wayne Weideman Picture AAPimage/David Clark

A MAN has drowned in a Gold Coast backyard pool, adding to more than 350 people who have either drowned or nearly-drowned on the Gold Coast in three years.

The 42-year-old from Runaway Bay drowned at Oxley Drive, Paradise Point, yesterday. Separately yesterday, a female toddler was taken to Lady Cilento Hospital by paramedics in a critical condition after nearly drowning in her family’s backyard pool about 6pm.

Backyard pools are the source of a lot of drownings despite our love of them.

It is understood the man was attending a party and the death is not suspicious. Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

The overall drowning incident numbers shape a scary story for those living on the Gold Coast - yesterday’s death marked the 17th drowning or near-drowning in the past three months in the region.

In other incidents, a toddler nearly drowned in an Elanora pool four days ago while on February 7, a woman died at the Broadwater in Southport after disappearing while snorkeling.

A day later 22-year old Tomoe Ogisu also lost his life after being caught in a rip at Fingal Head.

Staggering statistics from Queensland Ambulance Services reveal drowning or near drowning incident numbers aren’t improving.

Emergency services are seeing more and more drownings. Picture: Jerad Williams

The data shows in 2015 the number of drowning incidents recorded was 113.

Fast forward to 2017 and there were 129 incidents on the Gold Coast. In 2016 incidents tallied 131.

Paramedics believe the numbers can be changed with CPR and basic swim skills.

Queensland Ambulance Service senior operations supervisor Justin Payne has seen 13 years of drownings and said bad CPR was better than not doing CPR at all.

Tomoe Ogisu, 22, jumped into water at the headland in northern NSW with a friend before being caught in a rip and drowning. Photo: Facebook/Instagram

“When we get the call that a child is in a near-drowning situation, the only thing we are thinking of is their survival,” he said.

“Of course it is very disappointing when we realise these scenarios could’ve been easily avoided.

Pictured at their Mudgeeraba home Tammy Richie and her son Carson Richie (11). Carson survived a drowning as a 16-month-old. Picture Mike Batterham

“It is never too late to learn how to swim or how to do CPR and I find a lot of people who have done CPR years ago are too nervous to use it, but it could potentially save a life.

“I honestly think if everyone knew how to do CPR and watched their mates and kids in the pool or water or where ever they may be swimming we would have less numbers each year.”

Police and Surf Life Savers search for a drowning victim from the rocks at the Fingal Head Lighthouse, Fingal Head.

Mr Payne recommended doing “refresher” courses on CPR and teaching kids about swim safety.

“There is no doubt that in summer there are higher numbers of near drownings because people want to cool down but it is also the season where drownings are more prevalent.”

THREE YEAR SNAPSHOT

2015: 113

2016: 131

2017: 129

THE TRAGIC STATISTICS IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS:

DECEMBER

07/12/2017 — one-year-old girl pulled from a backyard pool in Mudgeeraba in a critical condition.

13/12/2017 — 21-year-old Brisbane man drowned on an unpatrolled northern NSW Tallow Beach.

14/12/2017 — eight-year-old girl pulled from the water in a non-responsive state at the Broadwater Parklands in Southport around by a lifeguard

19/12/2017 — toddler taken to hospital in a stable condition after paramedics were called to a Gold Coast home to reports of a near-drowning.

24/12/2017 — Mass rescue at Tallebudgera Creek with four people stuck in currents and needing rescuing

25/12/2017 — 22-year-old man dies at Duranbah Beach

JANUARY

1 2/01/2018 — young boy in critical condition after he was pulled from an Aldrin Avenue, Benowa backyard pool unconscious

15/01/2018 — a young girl treated in hospital after she was found lying face down in a resort pool

18/01/2018 — a little girl makes a lucky escape after nearly drowning at the Broadwater Parklands at Southport

24/01/2018 — a woman in her 20s taken to Gold Coast University Hospital swimming in a backyard pool at a private Surfers Paradise property

27/01/2018 — a three-year-old boy found unconscious near Pirate Park at Palm Beach

FEBRUARY

07/02/2018 — 33-year-old woman dies after swimming at the Broadwater, Southport

08/02/2018 — 25-year-old dies in rough surf at Fingal Head

08/02/2018 — A little boy transported to hospital after a near-drowning at a house in Surfers Paradise.

14/02/2018 — Toddler taken to hospital in a serious condition after nearly drowning in a backyard pool at Elanora

17/02/18— 2-year-old girl nearly drowns in a backyard pool in Nerang. She was taken to Lady Cilento Hospital in a critical condition.

17/02/18 — A 42-year-old man fatally drowns in a Paradise Point pool