Multiple Fatality Events
Multiple fatality events are defined as drowning events where two or more people died in the same incident. When multiple people lose their lives at one time, this has long-lasting impacts on families, communities, and rescue personnel.

Multiple fatality events are defined as drowning events where two or more people died in the same incident. When multiple people lose their lives at one time, this has long-lasting impacts on families, communities, and rescue personnel.

Circumstances where multiple fatality drowning events most commonly occur include:

Boating and watercraft activity

  • Poor weather and water conditions; hazardous water conditions, large waves, strong winds
  • Not wearing a lifejacket
  • Capsize of vessel due to speeding, striking a submerged object, poor weather conditions

Non-Aquatic transport accidents

  • Vehicles crashing into the water
  • Aircraft crashing into water

Flood-related

  • Driving through or being swept aways by flood waters
Alcohol-related drowning deaths
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41% of MFE occur during boating & watercraft activity
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44% occur in outer regional, remote & very remote locations
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37% drowned more that 100km or 2 hours away from home
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17% were flood-related

How to stay safe

  • Check weather and water conditions before and during your trip e.g., Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) app or website
  • Always wear a lifejacket when boating and fishing
  • Avoid driving through floodwaters
  • Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to be back, especially if going to regional and remote locations
  • Actively supervise children around water

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