This report provides a summary of the preventable drownings (fatalities and hospitalisations) in 2016. It breaks down the numbers by age, ethnicities, regions, activities and environments. In 2016 there were 78 recreational (intending to be in the water) and non-recreational (no intention of being in the water) preventable drowning fatalities. The following analysis of fatalities is based on these 78 incidents in 2016 which represent a decrease of 6, or 7%,compared to 2015.

The remaining 29 fatalities are classified as ‘other or non-preventable drownings’ (arising as a result of road or air accidents, homicide, suicide or of unknown origin) and are not considered applicable to the prevention and rescue efforts of the water safety sector. Details about these fatalities are not included in this report other than in the tables at the rear of the report.