Over the past 10 years, over 100 multiple fatality incidents have occurred in Australian waterways including swimming pools, where 229 people have drowned. Specifically, this past financial year (2025/26) had 14 multiple fatality drowning incidents, resulting in a total of 30 drowning deaths; the highest number of multiple fatal drowning deaths in almost a decade.
Almost two thirds (62%) were at regional and remote areas, and over one third were in the afternoon (38%). Forty-two per cent of multiple fatality incidents involved people born overseas.
This report analysed multiple fatality drowning incidents in the last 10-years (2015/16-2024/25). Multiple fatality incidents occurred across all environments, and among people of all ages, including children. Boating was the leading activity for multiple fatality drowning deaths, representing 42% of drowning deaths, and most occurred on ocean/harbour (42%) locations.
Over a quarter (28%) of people had travelled 100km or further from where they lived. It is important that people familiarise themselves with the local conditions, tell others of their plans.
Alcohol was recorded in 14% of drowning cases. Drugs were recorded in 22% of drowning cases, 62% of which were prescription medication or over the counter drugs.
Highest age group was those age 25-44-years, 34% of drowning deaths followed by 65-years and over, 22%.
This study shows that it is vital that people are prepared for their boating trip, regardless of experience.
Boating is a fun, social activity that thousands of people do every year. Most incidents that occur on the water are unexpected and people need to be prepared. Checking the weather and swell conditions, carrying the correct safety equipment, carrying communication and wearing lifejackets all aid in survival of everyone on board.
This study found that 17% of multiple fatality drowning deaths were due to non-aquatic transport such as vehicle and aircraft crashes into water. Of the non-aquatic transport drowning fatalities, 38% occurred during flooding. It is critical to stay informed about road conditions and floodwaters. Floodwater can pose many risks, including hidden debris and strong currents that can sweep away vehicles or knock you down, even in relatively shallow, moving water.
Multiple deaths resulting from one incident are incredibly tragic for families and communities. We can all work together to ensure that everyone has the knowledge, awareness, skills and experience to prevent drowning.
Recommendations/Prevention
- Collaborating with drowning prevention organisations and injury prevention agencies to promote safety messages around flood safety/ flood warning, boating safety messages, and road safety.
- Improve boating safety education by encouraging trip planning, weather checks, communication devices, and emergency preparedness before entering waterways.
- Continue to promote life jacket wear through messaging that focuses on normalising life jacket use for all boating and watercraft activities.
- Increase awareness on the importance of carrying and maintaining compliant life jackets, including regular checks on fit, condition, and accessibility before every trip out on the water.
- Continue to promote active child supervision.
Key findings
- More than 100 multiple-fatality drowning incidents occurred over the past 10 years.
- These incidents resulted in 229 drowning deaths.
- 14 incidents resulted in 30 drowning deaths in 2025/26, the highest multiple-fatality drowning deaths in almost a decade.
- 42% of deaths were associated with boating.
- 42% occurred at ocean or harbour locations.
- 62% of incidents occurred in regional or remote locations.
- 38% occurred during the afternoon.
- 28% of people who drowned had travelled 100km or further from home.
- People born overseas were involved in 42% of multiple-fatality drowning deaths.
- 17% of multiple-fatality drowning deaths involved non-aquatic transport.
- Of non-aquatic transport drowning deaths, 38% occurred during a flood event.
