Fatalities by Age Group 

 

Hospitalisations by Age Group 

 

 

Findings

Fatalities

There were 19 drowning fatalities in 2021 in the 65+ age group - this is the highest since 1988. Deaths occurred more in the older age groups of 45+, with a total 58% of drowning fatalities (52).

Fatality and hospitalisation rates are close in the older age groups, with a larger difference in rates in the younger age groups.

Hospitalisations

Hospitalisations of Under fives (25) decreased almost a third on 2021 (37) and 22% on the five year average (32), with swimming and slips/falls in this age group being lower than the five year averages.

The gender split of drowning hospitalisations is almost 50:50 up to 15 years of age; but from age 15 years onwards, hospitalisations are  two to four times more likely to be male.