Drownings spike over Australian summer: report

One person per day has died in Australian waterways so far in the southern hemisphere's summer period as long-term trends continue to be repeated, Australia's Royal Life Saving Society said.

Australia's inland waterways made up a third of the 59 deaths between Dec. 1 and Jan. 18 period, up 16 percent on the corresponding period last year, while 18 drownings occurred at Australia's beaches and 12 in oceans or harbours

Royal Life Saving Society national research manager Amy Peden said the statistics contained in the report, released on Thursday, were "disturbing" as trends continue to be repeated, with men and alcohol playing a key factor.

"Men are still drowning at a rate that's four times that of women - so men are 80 percent of these drowning statistics," she said.

It's believed alcohol plays a factor in the drownings, a timely warning as the nation prepares to celebrate "Australia Day," a national holiday marking the landing of the First Fleet of British ships at Port Jackson, founding what is known as modern Australia.

The report shows there have also been 66 "near drownings" in the period, many involving young children and backyard pools, a warning the figures could have been much worse.

"These are very serious incidents where someone has had to rescue from the water and resuscitate somebody and so they could have very nearly become fatal as well," Peden said. Endit