Aussies 'twice as likely to drown on public holidays', new research reveals

After a spate of drownings this summer, swimmers are being urged to take extra care in the water over the Easter long weekend.Credit: Craig Abraham

As a last blast of summer heat hits the state this long weekend, holidaying Victorians are being warned to be careful in the water after a spate of drownings over the warmer months.

Victorians are expected to flock to beaches and rivers over the four-day Easter weekend, with temperatures in Melbourne expected to hit the high 20s, before dropping again on Monday.

The mercury is also expected to crack 30 in parts of the state's north and west, where rivers are swimming hotspots.

New research from Royal Life Saving Australia shows 210 Australians drowned on public holidays over the past 15 years

A Lifesaving Victoria spokesman said this meant Australians who drowned were twice as likely to do so on public holidays.

The research also showed the Murray River, popular with weekend campers, was the leading black spot for river drownings.

"It's important that people are always prepared for, and aware of, conditions; understand the dangers of inland waterways; always check for patrol locations; and swim between the red and yellow flags at the beach," the spokesman said.

The warning comes as a man's body was found off Frankston Pier early Thursday morning, although details of the death are still unknown.

Paramedics were called to the pier about 12.50am, and his body was found about 40 minutes later.

The latest Victorian figures show there were 45 reported fatal drownings from July 1 last year to Sunday. This was 11 more than the 10-year average.

Easter Monday will be the last day that Victorian beaches are patrolled until the season reopens in early November.

Drownings during Victoria's summer peak 

• Father Charan Verma, 45, and his 20-year-old son Rahul, drowned while swimming at a Phillip Island beach on December 24, while his 11-year-old young son managed to swim to shore.
• On December 25, a 64-year-old diver died after getting into difficulty off the coast of Cape Schanck on the Mornington Peninsula.
• Harmanjot Singh Walia, 27, died after slipping into the water at MacKenzie Falls near Stawell on December 28. The Indian man, who lived in New Zealand, arrived in Australia the day before to visit friends.
• Josephine Williamson, 34, drowned while swimming at Lake Victoria, near Bairnsdale, on December 29. She was pulled from the water by family, but couldn't be revived.
• Max Tavai drowned while swimming with his family in Paynesville on January 1.
• A man, aged in 50s, was pulled unconscious from the water at Aspendale beach about 3.30pm on January 7. It's understood the man was kite-surfing when he was seen to be struggling in the surf, and was pulled to shore by a passerby, however, he could not be resuscitated.