DROWNINGS LAST SUMMER

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27795, 21 October 1955, Page 7

DROWNINGS LAST SUMMER

FIGURES ISSUED BY MINISTER (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 20. Twice as many persons between the ages of 20 and 30 were accidentally drowned during last swimming season as in any previous season recorded by the National Prevent Drowning Committee. More children between the ages of five and 15 were drowned than in any of the five previous seasons. The total figure, however, was smaller than that of some previous years. * This is said in the official survey of accidental drownings, covering the period November 1, 1954, to April 30, 1955, issued today by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr S. W. Smith). The survey shows that in this period 106 persons were accidentally drowned in New Zealand, an increase of 26 on the figure for the same period the previous year. Of the 106 drownings, 39 occurred in rivers, 18 in the open sea and off beaches, 13 in lakes and lagoons, and 12 in harbours.

“The survey reveals that no fewer than 73 of the victims were 30 years of age and under,” said Mr Smith. The most striking increase was in the 20-to-30 age group. In no previous year since the survey began had the number been greater than 10. In this period it was 20. Deaths in the 15-to-20 year group, which formerly did not exceed five, increased to 13. The number of children between five and 10 years of age who were drowned rose from nine to 16, and those under five showed a decrease from 17 to 13.

“All this points to a need for greater care in supervision of children, and the need for all to exercise ‘water wisdom’,” Mr Smith said. “Happily, the over-all figures for 1954-55 show a decrease against some previous years, and this is particularly heartening when viewed against the increase in population, and the undoubted attractions of beaches and rivers during the last particularly long, hot summer.”