The statistics on drowning deaths and non-fatal drowning incidents in the Mid West and Gascoyne region of WA are extremely concerning, highlighting the need for greater water safety education and training in the region.
Between 2009-2019 there were 89 drowning incidents recorded in the Mid West/Gascoyne region. There were 41 drowning deaths, and another 48 people hospitalised following a non-fatal drowning incident. The region had the highest drowning rate in WA, at a rate of 13.4 drownings per 100,000 people.
The top activities which led to these incidents were:
- Diving (34%)
- Boating (24%)
- Watercraft (17%)
Most incidents took place at the ocean/harbour (49%) and beach (42%). A smaller number occurred at rivers/creeks/streams (4.9%) and other locations.
Contributing factors were:
- Remote or very remote locations (83%)
- Inexperience or unfamiliarity with location (51%)
- Environmental factors e.g. poor weather/water conditions (44%)
- Participating alone (24%)
Of the incidents where alcohol was a contributing factor, the average blood-alcohol concentration was more than three times the legal limit for driving (0.172%).
The Shire of Exmouth was the top local area where drowning incidents occurred (38%). 72% of those who drowned were male.
The majority of incidents involved people born in Australia (76.4%), however many of these people were visiting the area as a tourist. Visitors/tourists accounted for 70.7% of fatal drownings, almost double the state trend.
Priority areas for drowning prevention include:
- Males – they are 2.3 times more likely to drown than females in the Mid West and Gascoyne region
- Toddlers aged 0-4 years
- Adults aged 55 and over
- People swimming alone
- Water safety in remote or very remote areas
You can download our snapshot of drowning data in the Mid West (including Gascoyne) region below.