The Royal Lifesaving Older Adult Drowning in Australia Report provides an overview of drowning trends, risks, and contributing factors for Australians aged 65 years and older.
During the reporting period (2015/16 – 2024/25) 736 older people drowned, an average of 74 drowning deaths per year.
Drowning in older adults at a glance
Infographic from the Royal Life Saving Australia Older Adult Drowning in Australia Report 2025.
The report highlights that older adults remain a high-risk group for drowning in Australia, with one in three drowning deaths occurring among people aged 65 and over. Drowning rates in this age group have risen by 74% compared to the 10-year average, driven by factors such as health conditions, medication effects, reduced mobility and unintentional falls into water.
Overall key findings:
- 736 drowning deaths among people aged 65+ over the past 10 years
- 115 deaths in 2024/25 – the highest on record
- 57% had a pre-existing medical condition
- Of those, 75% were cardiovascular-related
- 54% of deaths occurred among those aged 65-74 years
- Most common locations: beaches (24%) and rivers/creeks (22%)
- Leading activities: swimming and boating, followed by unintentional falls into water
- 25% occurred close to home (0-5km), with a further 26% occurring at the person’s residential property
The report findings provide valuable insight into the key risk factors and priority actions for older people and drowning and highlights the importance of developing focused, age‑specific drowning prevention approaches that consider both environmental conditions and personal risk factors.