AN INVESTIGATION INTO DROWNING IN NSW

NSW SUMMER DROWNING REPORT 2017/18

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Suggested Citation: Mahony, A, Peden, AE (2018) NSW summer drowning report 2017/18: An investigation into drowning in NSW between 1 December 2017 and 28 February 2018, Royal Life Saving Society – Australia. Sydney.

royallifesaving.com.au

This report was commissioned and funded by the NSW Government in response to the drowning deaths in NSW during summer 2017/18.

INTRODUCTION METHODS AND DEFINITIONS

Summer 2016/17 in NSW saw an increase in fatal drowning, particularly between Christmas and New Year, resulting in extensive media coverage. In response to the increase in drowning deaths, the NSW Government commissioned a report investigating drowning deaths over the summer period. The key findings of the ‘NSW Summer Drowning Report 2016/17’ were presented at the inaugural NSW Water Safety Forum, with stakeholders invited to discuss the findings and strategies for reducing the summer drowning toll in future years.

Following the 2017/18 summer season, the NSW Government again commissioned an investigation into drowning over summer (1 December 2017 to 28 February 2018). By analysing these events, the investigation sought to bring clarification and insight to the period, and inform prevention efforts. Key trends relating to sex, age, ethnicity, location, activity and risk factors are identified, as well emerging issues related to high-risk populations, locations and activities.

Summer 2017/18For this investigation, reports of all drowning and water-related cases between 1 December 2017 and 28 February 2018 were collated and assessed for relevance. Cases were sourced from several methods including media monitoring, the National Coronial Information System (NCIS) and de-identified police reports obtained from NSW Police in conjunction with the Coroner’s Court of NSW. This report contains information known as of 19 April 2018. At the time of completing this report, 88.9% of cases remain under coronial investigation and as such, the information presented in this report is subject to change. NSW population data was sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Historical Drowning DataHistorical drowning data were sourced from the Royal Life Saving National Fatal Drowning Database. Royal Life Saving excludes drowning deaths known to be intentional (e.g. suicide, homicide), or due to natural causes.

Visitor StatusThe distance between the incident and residential postcode was determined using Google Maps. A distance of less than 100km was considered ‘not a visitor’, more than 100km but within the same state was ‘visitor - intrastate’, a different state was ‘visitor - interstate’ and an overseas residential postcode as ‘visitor – overseas’. In cases where the incident or resident postcode was unknown, this was entered as ‘unknown’.

Remoteness ClassificationThere are five remoteness classifications used to categorise the location of a drowning incident. These are major cities, inner regional, outer regional, remote and very remote. Remoteness classification was defined by cross referencing the postcode of a drowning incident with the Australian Standard Geographical Classification – Remoteness Area (ASGC-RA) system.

Time of Drowning IncidentThe time of day of the drowning incident was coded into four bands: early morning (12:01am to 6am), morning (6:01am to 12pm), afternoon (12:01pm to 6pm) and evening (6:01pm to 12am).

Non-Fatal DrowningNon-fatal drowning cases were sourced from ambulance records and hospitalisation data. As current hospitalisation figures are not yet available, a NSW-specific historical ratio of 1 fatal drowning to 2.6 non-fatal drowning incidents (hospitalisations) was used to estimate the relevant figure.

DisclaimerPlease note the fatal drowning statistics presented in this report are interim and subject to change pending the outcome of ongoing coronial investigations.

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OVERALL

TRENDS OVER TIME

Selection of news headlines about NSW summer drowning incidents.

Financial year1 December – 24 December

25 December – 2 January

3 January – 31 January

1 February – 28 February

Total (1 December to 28 February)

Number of deaths

Historical drowning deaths

2007/08 9 4 13 9 35

2008/09 5 4 21 15 45

2009/10 6 5 16 11 38

2010/11 7 3 12 12 34

2011/12 7 3 8 7 25

2012/13 7 5 8 13 33

2013/14 9 3 6 14 32

2014/15 10 6 9 8 33

2015/16 6 2 16 10 34

2016/17 11 16 8 4 39

Drowning deaths (known as at 24 April 2017)

2017/18 8 7 11 10 36 Ten year average

(2007/08- 016/17) 8 5 12 10 35

NEW SOUTH WALES SUMMER DROWNING REPORT: AN INVESTIGATION INTO DROWNING DEATHS

PEOPLE DROWNED IN NSW BETWEEN 1 DECEMBER 2017 & 28 FEBRUARY 2018

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WHO DROWNS?

SUMMER 2017/18 (1 December 2017 to 28 February 2018)

SUMMER 2016/17 (1 December 2016 to 28 February 2017)

KEY LIFE STAGES KEY LIFE STAGES

SEX SEX

VISITOR STATUS VISITOR STATUS

81% 77%

22% 21%

58% 77%

17% 13%

14% 8%

11% 3%

19% 15%

14% 15%

19% 23%

18-24 YEARS 25-34 YEARS

45-54 YEARS 0-4 YEARS

25-34 YEARS 35-44 YEARS 55-64 YEARS

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NOT A VISITOR

VISITOR (INTERSTATE)

VISITOR (INTRASTATE)

VISITOR (OVERSEAS)

NOT A VISITOR

VISITOR (INTERSTATE)

VISITOR (INTRASTATE)

VISITOR (OVERSEAS)

WHERE, WHEN AND HOW DO THESE DROWNING DEATHS OCCUR?

SUMMER 2017/18 (1 December 2017 to 28 February 2018)

SUMMER 2016/17 (1 December 2016 to 28 February 2017)

LOCATION OF DROWNING INCIDENT LOCATION OF DROWNING INCIDENT

36% 26%BEACH SWIMMING POOL

8% 13%FALL NON-AQUATIC TRANSPORT UNKNOWN

JUMPED IN

11% ROCKS 18% BEACH ROCKS

25% RIVER/CREEK/STREAM 23% RIVER/CREEK/

STREAM

44% 33%SWIMMING & RECREATING

SWIMMING & RECREATING

11% 26%BOATING FALL

ACTIVITY PRIOR TO DROWNING ACTIVITY PRIOR TO DROWNING

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REMOTENESS CLASSIFICATION OF DROWNING REMOTENESS CLASSIFICATION OF DROWNING

44% 54%

36% 33%

19% 13%

INNER REGIONAL

MAJOR CITIES

OUTER REGIONAL

MAJOR CITIES

INNER REGIONAL

OUTER REGIONAL

DAY OF WEEK OF DROWNING INCIDENT DAY OF WEEK OF DROWNING INCIDENT

TIME OF DAY OF DROWNING INCIDENT TIME OF DAY OF DROWNING INCIDENT

42% 28%

67% 56%

17% 21%

17% 26%

14% 15%

11% 10%

SUNDAY MONDAY

AFTERNOON (12:01PM TO 6PM)

AFTERNOON (12:01PM TO 6PM)

SATURDAY SUNDAY

EVENING (6:01PM TO 12AM)

EVENING (6:01PM TO 12AM)

FRIDAY TUESDAY

MORNING (6:01AM TO 12PM)

MORNING (6:01AM TO 12PM)

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WHERE, WHEN AND HOW DO THESE DROWNING DEATHS OCCUR?

SUMMER 2017/18 (1 December 2017 to 28 February 2018)

SUMMER 2016/17 (1 December 2016 to 28 February 2017)

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WHY DO THESE DROWNING DEATHS OCCUR?

CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE

Countries of birth included China, India, Nepal & Vietnam

PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS

28% 14%WERE KNOWN TO INVOLVE A PRE-EXISTING MEDICAL CONDITION

OF PEOPLE WHO DROWNED WERE BORN OUTSIDE OF AUSTRALIA

Common medical conditions:

• Cardiac conditions (e.g. ischaemic heart disease)

• Respiratory conditions (e.g. asthma)

• Epilepsy

ALCOHOL AND DRUGS

8% ALCOHOL

3% ILLICIT DRUGS

*These figures are likely to underestimate the prevalence of alcohol and drug consumption as coronial investigations are ongoing

LIFEJACKET WEAR

33%OF PEOPLE BOATING & ROCK FISHING WERE NOT WEARING A LIFEJACKET (UNKNOWN IN A FURTHER 50% OF CASES)

MEDICAL CONDITIONS, ALCOHOL AND DRUGS HIGH RISK POPULATIONS

NON-FATAL DROWNING

SUMMER CAUSAL FACTORS

WEATHER & THE CONCEPT OF SWIMMABLE DAYS

Swimmable days were defined as days where the temperature was over 27°C without any rainfall

Between Christmas and New Year (25 December 2017 to 2 January 2018), 2 of the 9 days were swimmable days – consistent with the ten year average of 2

27°C

INCREASED POPULATION AND DENSITY

In the year to September 2017, NSW experienced its fastest population growth in 8 years

Significant increase in density, particularly in Sydney, with plans for 2.4 million additional residents over the next 30 years

1.6% POPULATION GROWTH IN NSW

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MEDIA COVERAGE

1,367

90

$9.7

MEDIA REPORTS ON SUMMER DROWNING INCIDENTS NATIONALLY, INC. 1,001 (73%) IN NSW

MILLION CUMULATIVE AUDIENCE

MILLION VALUE (ADVERTISING SPACE RATE)

AMBULANCE RECORDS

143

60%

40%

PATIENTS TREATED

MALE

FEMALE

EXPOSURE

42% DECREASE IN VISITATION BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR AT SURF LIFE SAVING NSW PATROLLED BEACHES

7% INCREASE IN PERSONS RESCUED WHILE BOATING

18% INCREASE IN VISITATION AT SURF LIFE SAVING NSW PATROLLED BEACHES OVER DECEMBER 2017 AND JANUARY 2018

3% DECREASE IN VESSEL LOGONS

Changes in visitation were recorded at a sample of NSW public pools

HOSPITALISATIONS

93 HOSPITALISATIONS ESTIMATED

*Based on NSW-specific historical ratio of 1 fatal drowning to 2.6 non-fatal drowning incidents (hospitalisations)

SUMMER CAUSAL FACTORS

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News websites referenced

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-29/one-dead-after-boat-capsize-at-kurnell/9292192

https://www.portnews.com.au/story/5125952/tragedy-at-flynns-beach-friends-remember-a-sporty-mate/

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/new-confronting-ads-to-be-rolled-out-across-nsw-in-a-bid-to-end-last-summers-drowning-toll/news-story/51731e5261aa65290c80a019de963ca0

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/toddler-drowns-in-portable-pool-in-sydney-on-christmas-ev

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-07/nsw-police-have-grave-concerns-for-11yo-swept-out-to-sea/9237322

http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/nsw-ambulance-warns-of-summer-dangers-particularly-around-water/news-story/ee897d837a18deee7670221bf194552a

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/man-drowns-on-nsw-far-north-coast-on-christmas-day-20171226-h0a1t3.html

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/murrumbidgee-river-deadly-wagga-waterway-claims-another-life-after-28yearold-vanishes/news-story/45f679cc73f96a215761ab5bd253e5b3

http://www.afr.com/real-estate/population-grows-at-fastest-rate-in-3-years-as-nsw-qld-pick-up-20180322-h0xtrk

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/three-visions-for-sydney-s-density-as-2-4-million-more-people-call-it-home-20180222-p4z1c5.html

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/best-swimming-spots-in-nsw/news-story/b64f12e0147bf893a0089b1fbff3ce5e

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberra-life/seven-secret-swimming-spots-on-the-south-coast-20171207-h00oig.html

https://www.theurbanlist.com/sydney/a-list/best-swimming-spots-nsws-south-coast

https://awol.junkee.com/nsw-australia-best-hidden-beaches/51450

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/western-sydney-locals-cool-off-in-their-own-backyard/news-story/2406b494e89f4de2903d930fa7df0f82?login=1

https://www.theurbanlist.com/sydney/a-list/best-natural-swimming-spots-sydney

PROMOTION OF SECRET SWIMMING SPOTS

INCREASED PROMOTION OF “SECRET” “HIDDEN” NATURAL SWIMMING LOCATIONS

Headlines promoting the “secret”, “hidden” and “best” swimming locations in the lead up to, and during summer

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