PEOPLE aged 65 and over are being warned to be extra vigilant around water this summer, with figures showing a 40 per cent increase in drowning deaths of older people.
Last week, during Water Safety Week, Emergency Services minister James Merlino launched this year’s Victorian drowning report and announced a new water safety campaign targeting older people. While the report highlights a concerning increase in drowning deaths in the older-age category, toddlers are still at the greatest risk, with children aged up to four years contributing to the highest rate of both fatal and non-fatal drowning incidents. A second water safety campaign will begin early 2017 raising awareness of the drowning risk for children under four.
The report found that 43 people lost their lives in Victorian waters – five more than the 10-year average.
The drowning rate of females increased by 33 per cent compared to the 10-year average, but males still account for 72 per cent of all drowning victims this year
A Taiwanese man in his 20s drowned earlier this year at Gunnammata when he was swimming outside the flags and got caught in a rip. Lifesavers pulled the man unconscious from the water and he could not be revived.
Three young men rescued a drowning man at Blairgowrie last year after they heard him crying out for help. The Hampton Park man had got into trouble while swimming at Koonya beach, and was spotted drifting about 500 metres offshore.
A 32-year-old Frankston man was rescued off Mornington beach last month after attempting to swim across to St Kilda to attend a concert. Police said the fully-clothed man would certainly not have made the trip safely.
In May 2012, a 26-year-old man drowned while swimming with friends at Frankston beach. His blood alcohol content was more than six times the legal limit for driving.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 14 December 2016