Table 2.
Numbers and percentage change of drowning deaths recorded in three determined periods of interest compared with 15-year (15FY) average for Australian coastal jurisdictions
| Variable | Category | Timeframe | Whole Year | Fire Period | COVID-19 Period | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n | % Change | n | % Change | n | % Change | |||
| Total | Coastal drowning deaths | 2019/20 | 120 | 9.1 | 73 | 5.8 | 38 | 8.6 |
| 15FY average (2004–2019) | 110 | – | 69 | – | 35 | – | ||
| Activity | Swimming/Wading | 2019/20 | 25 | −24.2 | 21 | −12.5 | NP | −50.0 |
| 15FY average (2004–2019) | 33 | – | 24 | – | 8 | – | ||
| Boating & PWC | 2019/20 | 34 | 41.7 | 15 | 7.1 | 15 | 87.5 | |
| 15FY average (2004–2019) | 24 | – | 14 | – | 8 | – | ||
| Rock Fishing | 2019/20 | 18 | 50.0 | 8 | 33.3 | 8 | 60.0 | |
| 15FY average (2004–2019) | 12 | – | 6 | 5 | – | |||
| Watercraft | 2019/20 | 8 | 0.0 | NP | 0.0 | NP | 33.3 | |
| 15FY average (2004–2019) | 8 | – | NP | – | NP | – | ||
| Snorkelling & Diving |
2019/20 | 14 | 16.7 | 12 | 50.0 | NP | −66.7 | |
| 15FY average (2004–2019) | 12 | – | 8 | – | NP | – | ||
| Location | Beach | 2019/20 | 45 | −11.8 | 34 | −2.9 | 10 | −28.6 |
| 15FY average (2004–2019) | 51 | – | 35 | – | 14 | – | ||
| Bay | 2019/20 | 6 | −25.0 | 5 | 0.0 | NP | −66.7 | |
| 15FY average (2004–2019) | 8 | – | 5 | – | NP | – | ||
| Offshore | 2019/20 | 36 | 56.5 | 19 | 46.2 | 13 | 85.7 | |
| 15FY average (2004–2019) | 23 | – | 13 | – | 7 | – | ||
| Rock/Cliff | 2019/20 | 26 | 23.8 | 12 | 9.1 | 11 | 37.5 | |
| 15FY average (2004–2019) | 21 | – | 11 | – | 8 | – | ||
| Jurisdiction | New South Wales (NSW) | 2019/20 | 49 | 16.7 | 30 | 15.4 | 13 | 0.0 |
| 15FY average (2004–2019) | 42 | – | 26 | – | 13 | – | ||
| Queensland (QLD) |
2019/20 | 29 | 38.1 | 17 | 41.7 | 11 | 57.1 | |
| 15FY average (2004–2019) | 21 | – | 12 | – | 7 | – | ||
| South Australia (SA) |
2019/20 | NP | −50.0 | NP | −20.0 | 0 | −100.0 | |
| 15FY average (2004–2019) | 8 | – | 5 | – | NP | – | ||
| Tasmania (TAS) |
2019/20 | 5 | 0.0 | NP | 33.3 | 0 | −100.0 | |
| 15FY average (2004–2019) | 5 | – | NP | – | NP | – | ||
| Victoria (VIC) |
2019/20 | 12 | −25.0 | 8 | −27.3 | NP | −20.0 | |
| 15FY average (2004–2019) | 16 | – | 11 | – | 5 | – | ||
| Western Australia (WA) | 2019/20 | 21 | 23.5 | 10 | 0.0 | 10 | 66.7 | |
| 15FY average (2004–2019) | 17 | – | 10 | – | 6 | – | ||
Note: PWC = Personal Watercraft. NP = Not Presented.