A harrowing incident unfolded at Maroubra Beach rock pool in April 2023 after an elderly man narrowly escaped drowning whilst swimming at the pool.
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Swift action by the authorities was crucial in saving his life, as police rescue vehicles and the NSW ambulance rushed to the scene.
Fortunately, the man regained consciousness and was able to communicate with medical professionals whilst being transported to the Prince of Wales Hospital.
NSW Drowning Report
This incident at Maroubra Beach rock pool occurs amidst a troubling surge of drowning incidents in New South Wales.
According to the recently released Royal Life Saving National Drowning Report for 2022, the state witnessed a significant increase in drowning cases during the 2021/22 period compared to the previous year and the ten-year average.
This marks the first time since 2011 that NSW has reported over 100 drowning deaths in a single year. The reported number of drownings in NSW during the latest period also stands as the highest on record since 2002.
Out of the 339 individuals who tragically lost their lives in Australian waterways between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022, a staggering 125 fatalities occurred in NSW. Following closely behind was Queensland, with 84 reported drowning deaths, and Victoria, with 53 lives lost in water-related incidents.
Disturbingly, statistics reveal that one in every four drowning deaths in NSW involves a person aged 65 years or older.
Learn to Swim Campaign
Recognising the urgency of addressing this issue, Royal Life Saving NSW, in collaboration with the NSW Government’s Office of Sport, has launched a campaign called “Learn to Swim” specifically targeted at multicultural communities.
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The campaign aims to encourage greater participation in swimming lessons across NSW, particularly among individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. By providing culturally sensitive and inclusive swimming programs, the initiative hopes to equip people with essential water safety skills and reduce the risk of drowning incidents.
Published 4-May-2023