Drownings up in region

A grim drowning toll saw six deaths in the Nelson region last year.

Water Safety New Zealand has released the national drowning toll showing 123 people drowned last year. That is up 41 per cent on 2010 and is the worst result since 2003.

In the Nelson region the number of drownings was up from four deaths in 2010.

Of the six drownings, all but one were male. The youngest person to drown was 16 but the rest were 23 years and older.

Two deaths were in swimming pools, the others were in the sea, lakes and rivers.

Water Safety NZ chief executive Matt Claridge said it was a huge disappointment to see the reversal of what had been a long-term decline in the number of drownings both nationally and for the region.

"To go from a record low in 2010 to a significant increase in 2011 is a tragedy and we will do everything we can to continue to inform and educate people about water safety to ensure 2012 is a better year," he said.

Mr Claridge said it was difficult to determine the reason for 2011's high toll but that New Zealand had an ongoing issue with a casual attitude to safety.

"Many of the drownings that occurred during recreational activities could have been prevented if people remembered the safety basics.

"Wear lifejackets, check the weather forecast, stay within your limits, don't swim alone and avoid alcohol. These and other simple precautions could save your life."

In the Nelson region, five of the six deaths occurred while the victims participated in recreational activities.

Nationally in 2011 there were 66 recreational drownings, 24 non-recreational, 30 recorded as other activities, and three unclassified fatal incidents.

Mr Claridge said he would like to see water safety high on people's lists of New Year's resolutions.

"2012 is already off to a poor start with 15 drownings nationally so far this year. I'm calling on all New Zealanders to make water safety a priority.

"Refresh yourself on the safety basics and if you – or family members – can't swim, start learning now."

Drowning is the third highest cause of accidental death in New Zealand, behind road vehicle crashes and falls.

2011 DROWNINGS IN NELSON-TASMAN December 4: Tramper Sharny Abbott, 23, in the Roding River. October 1: Ian Oliver Randall, 39, of Christchurch, falls over waterfall at Maruia. August 17: Body of 63-year-old man found in pond on his Mapua property. February 4: Kent Robert Trendall, 27, disappears on Lake Rotorua. His body has not been recovered. January 17: Anouschka Bloomfield, 32, drowns while swimming in Riwaka School pool. January 4: Sam Goodenough, 16, dies in Nelson Hospital from a brain injury secondary to drowning in a pool at a Richmond home.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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