YOUNG adults swimming on the Mornington Peninsula pose the highest drowning risk in Victoria, a new report has revealed.
Life Saving Victoria’s 2024/2025 drowning report was released last week. It reveals that between 2015/2016 and 2024/2025, there were more drownings on the Mornington Peninsula than in any other part of the state.
The 25-44 age group suffered the most number of drownings on the peninsula. Drownings most commonly occurred while swimming at beaches.
LSV estimates that there is a 99 percent likelihood of a drowning in any given year on the Mornington Peninsula. 36 percent of drowning victims on the peninsula were residents.
The Frankston area ranked eighth for drowning deaths, with young people aged between 15 and 24 the most common victims. Frankston drownings most commonly occurred equally at beaches and in private pools.
55 percent of Frankston drowning victims lived locally.
In Kingston people aged over 65 were identified as the highest drowning risk, with drownings occurring most commonly at beaches.
Statewide drownings are on the rise, with a total of 52 fatal and 123 non-fatal drowning incidents occurring between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025. Life Saving Victoria’s research and evaluation manager Dr Hannah Graefe said “a whole-of-community response is required to bring about a sustained reduction in drowning incidents.”
“Fifty-two people lost their lives to drowning in the 2024-25 financial year, and a further 123 people experienced a non-fatal drowning incident that can have lifelong impacts on those involved,” she said. “These figures are both above their respective 10-year averages, pointing to a concerning upward trend in drowning incidents across the state. We must all work together as a community to bring these numbers down.”
The number of drowning fatalities among people with multicultural backgrounds highlighted a growing need for widespread anti-drowning campaigns. 37 percent of drowning fatalities recorded in Victoria between 2015 and 2025 involved people from multicultural backgrounds.
First published in the Frankston Times – 9 December 2025