Corowa Volunteer Rescue Squad’s Peter Wright shared a water safety message with year five and six students from Corowa Public School on Monday. The rescue diver of 43 years is pictured with school captains Lilyana Murray-Wright and Lachlan Douglas.
A record-breaking summer for drowning deaths last year has prompted an urgent warning from the Royal Life Saving Society – Australia for people to be water safety conscious in, on, and around water this summer.
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In 20 years of fatal drowning data, last summer (2021/22) had the highest number of deaths on record, with 145 people drowning across Australia.
The shocking data has prompted local volunteer rescue diver Peter Wright OAM to issue a warning to locals not to be complacent around the Murray River and other inland bodies of water this summer.
“There will be drownings this summer, it’s just a matter of when, not if it will happen,” the rescue diver of 43 years said.
“There is no tragedy like a drowning where the parents and family are on the scene. There’s the utter devastation and shock because they couldn’t believe it could happen to them. It does happen, and sadly it will continue to happen.
“The only way to minimise these tragedies from occurring is to be aware of the risks.”
Mr Wright said there would be “increased hazards” following record rainfall in the area and Murray River flooding in the last few months.
“There’s a lot of fallen trees and debris, which may present with more underwater hazards in previous ‘tree free’ areas,” he said.
“Areas where people thought were safe last summer, might not be safe this summer. The edge of the river will be a lot more slippery and unstable.”
Mr Wright said parents and guardians need to be more cautious than ever, particularly with young children.
“Drowning can happen in a matter of seconds to minutes, especially in the river where you can’t see below the surface. You have no idea where they are, and the situation can become disastrous very quickly,” Mr Wright said.
“It’s the reason why the RLSS recommends super close supervision. Parents should only be an arm’s length from their children at all times.
“Ultimately it is a parents or guardians’ responsibility to look after children around the water. You can’t palm that responsibility off to other children.”
Mr Wright said 99 per cent of all drownings in inland waterways are avoidable.
“This Christmas and over summer we want people to stay safe around the river and other waterways,” he said.
“Wear a life jacket if you’re on the water. In 50 years, no one has ever drowned with a life jacket on.
Volunteer rescue diver Peter Wright OAM is urging the community to stay safe around the river this summer, with added risks following months of flooding and record rainfall.
“Supervise children, don’t get distracted by mobile phones and please don’t mix alcohol consumption with the river.
“One of my biggest irks is people jumping off the John Foord Bridge. As I’ve stated, there are more hazards this year lurking beneath the surface with the river running high.
“Imagine jumping off the bridge and getting your foot caught in a shopping trolley? Jumping off it could be the last thing you ever do.
“At a recent Royal Life Saving Service seminar in Echuca, it was made clear that council has an obligation to meet its health and safety requirements on waterways under their control. The Murray River in our area is under Federation Council’s control, so I would also encourage them to meet their obligation and install better signage about the dangers of jumping off the bridge here in Corowa.”
Mr Wright also delivered his message of water safety to year five and six students at Corowa Public School on Monday.
“I enjoy talking to primary school kids about water safety and the dangers around the river,” he said.
“Royal Life Saving is undertaking a lot of education programs at the moment which is commendable. At the end of the day, we just want the message to get across so that we can avoid any more tragedies.
“Hopefully we will l have a good tourist season this summer, I just hope and pray everyone will take the advice.”
Royal Life Saving Chief Executive Officer Justin Scarr said the week between Christmas and January 2 was the deadliest period for drowning deaths.
“The summer holidays are the time when we all like to catch up with friends and family and unwind, but sadly it’s also the peak period for drowning, with too many people not making it home after a day in, on, or around the water,” Mr Scarr said.
“Men particularly need to leave their alcohol consumption until after they’re out of the water. Alcohol was present in more than a quarter of drowning deaths last summer so we’re asking everyone to stay off the beers until they’re back on dry land.
“While we all need to relax, it is critically important that an adult is actively supervising children at all times if you are near water, whether it is an inflatable pool, a backyard pool, a dam, river, beach or lake.
“With heatwaves, and more rain forecast be aware of children around water, especially children playing in and around flooded waterways and drains. It’s important not to let children play or swim in floodwater.”
