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357 Australians drowned in the past 12 months. Queensland was the second hardest hit state. Here is what the data means for you and why first aid training in Brisbane has never been more important.

The National Drowning Report 2025 has just released its latest findings. Royal Life Saving Society Australia published it in partnership with Surf Life Saving Australia. As a result, the numbers are now available for all Australians to consider. They are deeply confronting.

Between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025, 357 people drowned in Australian waterways. That is a 27% increase above the 10 year average. In addition, the fatal drowning rate hit 1.31 per 100,000 people. That is 17% higher than the decade benchmark.

For Queenslanders in particular, the picture is particularly alarming.

Queensland: The Second Highest Drowning State in Australia

Queensland recorded 90 unintentional drowning deaths in 2024/25. Only New South Wales recorded more, with 129 deaths. Furthermore, Queensland’s toll sits 36% above its own 10 year average. That is one of the sharpest rises in the country.

Queensland is also home to the region with the highest drowning rate in Australia. Torres and Cape recorded 4.95 deaths per 100,000 residents.

Therefore, drowning is not a distant risk for Queenslanders. It is a present and growing danger, particularly in summer.

Who Is Drowning? The Data May Surprise You

Understanding who is at risk is the first step toward prevention. The 2025 report reveals several important patterns.

Males face the greatest risk

Males accounted for 81% of all drowning deaths. Moreover, this trend holds consistently across all age groups and locations.

Older Australians are a growing risk group

One in three drowning deaths (33%) involved adults aged 65 years and over. Unintentional falls into water caused many of these deaths. In addition, limited mobility and underlying medical conditions increase this risk as people age.

Overseas born Australians are over represented

Of the cases where country of birth was known, 32% of those who drowned were born overseas. As a result, this highlights the need for accessible, multilingual water safety education across diverse communities.

Children aged 0 to 4 years show progress but remain a priority

Fatal drowning in this age group dropped 21% compared to the 10 year average. Decades of advocacy around pool fencing laws and supervision campaigns have driven this result. However, 53% of drowning deaths in this group still occurred in swimming pools. Therefore, this age group remains a priority area in the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030.

Where and How Are People Drowning?

The top three locations for fatal drowning in 2024/25 were rivers and creeks (28%), beaches (23%), and ocean and harbour (11%).

Queenslanders encounter these environments every day. In particular, rivers, creeks, and coastal areas draw locals and tourists throughout the warmer months.

Swimming and recreating is the leading cause

Swimming and recreating caused 24% of all drowning deaths. This is a 14% increase on the 10 year average. For example, young adults aged 20 to 24 accounted for 11% of these deaths alone.

Falls and boating also feature heavily

Unintentional falls into water caused 10% of drowning deaths. Boating accounted for 9%, though this is 31% below the 10 year average. This improvement is largely due to greater lifejacket use. Nevertheless, adults aged 65 and over made up 55% of boating related deaths. Half of those were aged 75 and older.

The Survival Gap: What Happens in the Minutes Before Help Arrives

Drowning kills fast. That is the hard truth behind every statistic in this report.

Submersion cuts off oxygen to the brain within minutes. As a result, unconsciousness can follow in as little as two minutes. Furthermore, brain damage begins within four to six minutes. In metropolitan Brisbane, emergency services often take eight to ten minutes or more to arrive. In regional and remote Queensland, the wait is even longer.

That gap is where lives are saved or lost. Consequently, a trained bystander is the only thing that fills it.

The National Drowning Report 2025 directly calls for action on this. Specifically, the report states that community CPR and water rescue training could help bridge the gap where professional services are not available. It also calls for bystander rescue programs that teach people how to perform a safe rescue and begin resuscitation immediately.

CPR in a Drowning Emergency: What You Need to Know

Rescue breaths are essential for drowning victims

CPR for a drowning victim differs from standard cardiac arrest CPR. This is because drowning causes respiratory arrest before cardiac arrest. As a result, the victim’s heart may still beat after leaving the water but they cannot breathe.

Australian Resuscitation Council guidelines recommend starting with two initial rescue breaths. After that, follow with the standard 30:2 cycle of compressions and breaths. Continue until the person breathes independently or emergency services arrive.

Hands only CPR is not enough

Hands only CPR works well for cardiac arrest. However, it does not work for drowning. Therefore, knowing this difference could determine whether someone survives.

In addition, a certified first aid course covers CPR, anaphylaxis, choking, and water emergency protocols. As a result, it prepares you for the full range of emergencies, not just one.

Water Safety Tips the Report Recommends

The National Drowning Report 2025 offers clear, evidence backed prevention advice. Follow these steps to reduce your risk around water.

Always supervise children in, on, and around water. Never assume a pool is safe without active supervision. Similarly, learn swimming, water safety, and lifesaving skills and refresh them regularly. In addition, wear a lifejacket when boating, rock fishing, or paddling. Always swim at patrolled beaches between the red and yellow flags. Furthermore, avoid alcohol and drugs around water. Finally, check conditions before entering open water as weather, currents, and water temperature can change fast.

These habits save lives. When prevention fails, however, knowing CPR makes the difference.

Don’t Wait for an Emergency to Learn

These 357 statistics represent real families. Fathers, mothers, children, grandparents gone in minutes, in places as familiar as a backyard pool or a local creek.

You cannot control where the next emergency happens. However, you can control whether you are ready for it.

Brisbane First Aid offers nationally recognised first aid and CPR courses for individuals, families, schools, childcare centres, and workplaces across Brisbane. Qualified trainers deliver every session. Moreover, most courses take just a few hours to complete. As a result, you will leave with the practical skills to act confidently in a real emergency, including drowning.

Public sessions run at multiple locations across Brisbane throughout the week.

Book your first aid course today.

Source: Royal Life Saving Society – Australia & Surf Life Saving Australia, National Drowning Report 2025 (covering 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025).