Boating picks up its safety game, drowning survey shows

The report indicates only 29 drownings in the 2018-19 financial year related directly to boating on rivers, off beaches and in the ocean and harbours, accounting for just 11 per cent of the 276 deaths in Australian waterways overall. That compares with 36 boating-related drownings in the previous financial year.

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Boating was the third-most common form of on-water activity resulting in drownings behind swimming and recreation, and falling into water.

Against the 10-year moving average, the number of boat-related drownings relating to males aged between 25-64 years has fallen significantly, recording only 14 deaths for a 21 per cent reduction.

"Royal Life Saving credits increased boating safety campaigns being implemented by departments of transport and maritime safety across Australia, as well as marine safety organisations for this decline," RLS chief executive Justin Scarr told boatsales.com.au.

"Direct approaches including old for new lifejacket drives, safety messaging at boat ramps and billboards in key boating locations, weather warnings by the Bureau of Meteorology have created a more safety-conscious boating public," he said.

However, Royal Life Saving warned that inflatable lifejackets must be serviced regularly to ensure they would work in an emergency.

The Royal Life Saving report shows boaters were most likely to drown in the ocean or harbour, with 15 deaths recorded in those areas. Inland waterways such as rivers and streams accounted for nine deaths in the period.

Four boating, and three watercraft deaths were also linked to pre-existing medical conditions such as heart disease, the report notes.

However, the big risk to boaters appears to be illegal drugs, which accounted for 14 per cent of drownings related to the activity over the reporting period.

Every single state and territory saw a reduction in the 10-year moving average for drownings except Victoria, which saw a 33 per cent jump in the 10-year average to 2018-19, and a 40 per cent increase year-on-year. Only six of those deaths, though, related to boating.

Western Australia recorded nine boating-related drownings in the 2018-19 financial year, NSW eight, Victoria six, Queensland five, South Australia one, and the Northern Territory and Tasmania none, although Australia’s southernmost state recorded one drowning related to unpowered watercraft such as kayaks and canoes. No breakdown of the figures was available for the ACT.

Among its recommendation, the report urges authorities to raise the awareness of the risks of alcohol and drug consumption at high-risk locations including inland waterways such as rivers and lakes, and while undertaking high-risk activities including boating.