Record number of drownings in Victoria’s deadliest summer ever

VICTORIA’S deadliest summer on record saw about two people drown each week — up more than a third on the five-year average.

VICTORIA’S deadliest summer on record saw about two people drown each week — up more than a third on the five-year average.

As the mercury soared, almost three million swimmers flocked to patrolled beaches across the state — 300,000 more than last year.

Along with the surge in visitors, lifeguards also reported battling some of the strongest rip currents they had ever seen.

A perfect storm of deadly conditions resulted in 23 people losing their lives in the water between December 1 and February 28 — nine more than the five-year average for the same period.

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Lifeguards struggle to keep swimmers inside the flags at Anglesea surf beach. Picture: Alex Coppel

The tragedies included an Indian student who died at Woolamai beach on Christmas Day, two men who drowned at separate beaches in Melbourne’s western suburbs just hours apart in early January and a 44-year-old Sydenham man who died while trying to save his children at Skenes Creek on the Great Ocean Rd in December.

On Good Friday, mother-of-one Anjana Vaghela from Keilor East was dragged into the surf at Lorne after being swept off rocks near Stony Creek. The 37-year-old died in hospital a fortnight later.

Life Saving Victoria’s Operations Manager Greg Scott said the incident was a “sad reminder of how dangerous the ocean can be” and urged beachgoers to “never, ever, turn their back on the ocean”.

Unintentional water entry, such as slips and falls, accounted for 40 per cent of fatal drowning incidents last year.

Rescues were also up almost a third on the previous year — with 633 lifesaving rescues performed across the state during the season.

The sudden spike in drownings has prompted the State Government to plunge more than $8 million into extra lifeguard patrols and water safety programs at Victoria’s most dangerous beaches.

A further $11.5 million has also been pledged to upgrade club houses including Bonbeach and Black Rock.

Mr Scott said that while the number of rescues had increased this year, so too had the number of preventive actions carried out by lifesavers.

“We did see the number of rescues performed this season rise, but the number of preventive actions was also up by seven per cent, meaning lifesavers were diligent in taking precautions before beachgoers got into the water and into trouble,” he said.

Mr Scott also said it was a testament to the training and skills of lifesavers in identifying potentially deadly situations.

With patrolling concluded for the season, Life Saving Victoria is urging people to remain vigilant at waterways and beaches and never swim alone.

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