Australia sees highest number of multi-fatality drownings in a decade

Royal Life Saving Australia disclosed that 14 separate drowning incidents resulted in 30 fatalities during the 2025/26 season, marking the steepest increase in multi-fatality events since 2016/17 when 34 people died. The majority of these tragedies were linked to boating trips, driving through floodwater, or swimming in unfamiliar rivers, dams or coastal areas, with men accounting for 83% of the victims and a quarter aged between 65 and 74.

Over the last decade, Australia has experienced 103 such incidents, totaling 229 deaths, an average of 23 per year. Chief executive Justin Scarr highlighted that families often embark on ordinary outings—boat rides, drives, or coastal walks—without fully assessing swimming abilities or flood risks. He warned that the coming months' extreme heat and weather create a "perfect storm" for further drownings and called for stronger safety messaging, mandatory life-jackets on boats, and public education on supervising children near water.