WARNING FOR BEACHGOERS AMID DROWNING FEARS:

Beachgoers told to be on high alert this summer

GEELONG residents are urged to swim between the flags and be on high alert this summer, as statistics reveal more people are drowning at the region’s beaches.

A new Life Saving Victoria report shows 29 people drowned in Geelong, Surf Coast and Queenscliff waters in the 10 years to last summer, while a further 67 people were hospitalised.

Last summer 23 swimmers drowned in Victorian waters, the highest summer drowning toll in 20 years. Those who drowned included a 41-year-old father who died trying to help his children at Skenes Creek just four days out from Christmas Day.

The Geelong Advertiser can also reveal that a third of all those who drowned in the Geelong waters were older swimmers aged between 45 and 64.

Life Saving Victoria’s Rhiannon Birch said nearly all drownings in the Geelong region occurred at beaches, either while people were swimming or snorkelling.

“The biggest concern for Geelong is that the majority of drowning events have occurred at beaches,” Ms Birch said. “(The drownings) are either as a result of swimming or snorkelling but also because people are trying to rescue someone who is in trouble.”

The report also shows between 2006/07-2016/17 in Geelong:

THERE were 44 emergency department presentations for neardrownings; and,

MEN were 2.2 times more likely to drown than females.

Ms Birch said the Surf Coast has been identified as a black spot for drowning incidents, prompting a range of innovative education developments in the region which would be trialled for the first time this summer.

“We are working with local businesses to inform and educate people — both international, local and interstate swimmers — on water safety,” Ms Birch said.

Across Victoria last summer there was a 35 per increase in the fatal drowning rate of 35-64 yearolds and a 28 per cent increase in drowning deaths at coastal waterways.

Ms Birch said all beachgoers should swim at patrolled areas, never swim alone and ensure they know how to identify a rip.

“The biggest concern for Geelong is that the majority of drowning events have occurred at beaches.” LIFE SAVING VICTORIA’ S RHIANNON BIRCH

Picture: PETER RISTEVSKI ON WATCH: Patrol captain Will Ronis with Colin Brodie and James Sallabank at Anglesea on Saturday. The weekend marked the beginning of beach patrols for summer.