Australia has experienced a spike in drowning deaths in the summer of 2020/2021 after fitness levels plunged during Covid lockdowns, a top lifesaver has warned.
At least 55 people have died as a result of drowning this summer alone, compared to just 43 at this time last year.
According to Liam Krige, the general manager at Life Saving Victoria, the staggering amount of drowning deaths this season is done to dwindling fitness and a blase attitude to the dangers. The sad reality is that people think it s not going to happen to them, or that they don t need to worry about it, Mr Krige told The Age.
News by Georgia Clark
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Subscriber only Authorities have urged people to stay safe in the water over the long weekend amid fears the number of lives lost in our waterways this summer could climb following a spate of drownings. The warning comes after a horror month marred by drownings including the death of 15-year-old Riing Doar, who died while swimming in a rocky waterhole at Kentlyn on Wednesday. The death of the young Mount Carmel Catholic College student marked the state s thirteenth drowning death this summer. Ondrej Ivanic lost his life in a tragic accident while hiking and floating down with his friends on the Colo River.
Hero police officer Kelly Foster farewelled after Blue Mountains whirlpool death
ThuThursday 14
updated
ThuThursday 14
JanJanuary 2021 at 1:41pm
Police and community members have lined the streets of Lithgow to farewell Senior Constable Kelly Foster.
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Mourners have lined the streets of Lithgow, New South Wales, to bid farewell to highly regarded and dedicated police officer Kelly Foster.
Key points:
Senior Constable Kelly Foster died after she was sucked into a whirlpool while canyoning in the NSW Blue Mountains
It is believed she was attempting to save a 24-year-old international student, who also drowned
Mourners have lined the streets of Lithgow, where she was stationed, to pay their respects at her funeral today
Final honour for fallen police officer at funeral A police officer who died when she jumped into a whirlpool to try and save someone else has received the state’s highest bravery award.
News by Nick Hansen
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Subscriber only A police officer who died when she jumped into a whirlpool to try and save someone else has received the state s highest bravery award in front of hundreds of grieving family and friends. Senior Constable Kelly Foster was posthumously bestowed the Commissioner s Valour Award for bravery at her funeral at Lithgow Uniting Church today. Mourners lined the streets of the tiny town where Sen-Const Foster was a devoted officer, as her hearse travelled behind mounted police and the bagpipes played.