SYDNEY: Australian lifeguards have issued a safety warning after a spate of drownings across the country in the beginning of the summer, reported Xinhua.

According to data from Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS), Australia's top water safety, swimming and lifeguard education organisation, 44 people have drowned in the country since the start of summer on December 1.

It equalled the 44 drowning deaths recorded during the same period in 2023-24 and was slightly above the five-year average of 41 drowning deaths for the period.

Of the 44 drowning deaths, 13 occurred in the period between Christmas Day on December 25 and New Year's Day on January 1.

William Koon, the national manager of drowning prevention strategy at the RLSS, said on Tuesday that swimming skills have decreased in Australia due to financial barriers and lower availability and accessibility of local swimming pools.

He told News Corp Australia newspapers that a new national strategy is needed to give Australian children the skills they need to survive in the water.

The commander of the RLSS branch in the state of Victoria, Kane Treloar, urged everyone planning on going swimming during the rest of the summer to do so at beaches patrolled by lifeguards and to take care of each other.

At least five drowning victims since December 1 were younger than 18, according to the RLSS.

Of the accidents, 12 occurred in Australia's most populous state of New South Wales and 11 were in Queensland.

-- BERNAMA