Horror start to New Year: Six people drown in first six days of 2021
6 Jan, 2021 07:20 PM
6 minutes to read
Water safety advocates are appealing for swimmers to make good decisions around water after six deaths in the first six days of 2021. Photo / Kenny Rodger
NZ Herald
Six people have lost their lives in water tragedies since January 1.
Four of the latest deaths happened in a horror 50 hours with swimmers dying in lakes across the North Island.
The devastating start has water safety advocates sounding a warning that the high number of people enjoying the warmer water could lead to more dramas along our coastlines, as Kiwis flock to beaches and rivers for respite.
DAVID WALKER/STUFF/Stuff
The two men got into trouble near the northern shore of Lake Ellesmere on Wednesday. Earlier this month, Water Safety New Zealand spokeswoman Sheridan Bruce urged people to remain vigilant on the water during the Christmas and New Year holiday. She said 65 people had died in the water by December 22 this year, compared to 75 fatalities for the same period in 2019. In 2019, six people died in the water between December 24 and January 5, she said. “Even though the toll is down it is still too many lives needlessly lost. “All it takes is one moment of carelessness, one moment of unnecessary risk taking, one moment of stupidity.
Tuesday, 22 December 2020, 10:41 am
After a difficult year New Zealanders will be keen to hit
the beaches, lakes and rivers this holiday season and the
predicted numbers have water safety advocates on
edge.
“While we want everyone to enjoy the summer
break we need everyone to take some personal responsibility
for their safety this summer,” says Water Safety New
Zealand spokesperson Sheridan Bruce.
“We want zero
drowning fatalities over the Christmas and New Year holiday
and everyone to think about water safety, “says
Bruce.
Currently the toll of 65 for 2020 is down on 75
at the same time in 2019 which was expected due to the
Safety concerns as Kiwis expected to flock to waterways in numbers Tuesday, December 22, 2020 IWK Bureau
After a difficult year, New Zealanders will be keen to hit the beaches, lakes and rivers this holiday season and the predicted numbers have water safety advocates on edge.
“While we want everyone to enjoy the summer break we need everyone to take some personal responsibility for their safety this summer,” says Water Safety New Zealand spokesperson Sheridan Bruce.
“We want zero drowning fatalities over the Christmas and New Year holiday and everyone to think about water safety, “says Bruce.
Currently, the toll of 65 for 2020 is down on 75 at the same time in 2019 which was expected due to the COVID-19 lockdown at the end of last summer.