Drownings in Australia have surged to an unprecedented level and the country’s swimming skills are now at “crisis” point, experts say.

The 357 lives lost in swimming pools, rivers, creeks, lakes and dams, beaches and rough rocky surf, baths and spas, oceans and harbours in 2024-25 was 34 more than the year prior and 27 per cent higher than the 10-year average.

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The sobering data featured in the 2025 National Drowning Report, released jointly by Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia on Tuesday, and has been described as a serious “wake-up call”.

“Drowning deaths have surged to unprecedented levels,” Royal Life Saving Australia chief executive Justin Scarr said.

“The decline in swimming skills, an ageing population, and more people heading to remote and unfamiliar locations away from lifesaving services are causing concern.

“Half of all children leave primary school unable to swim 50 metres and float for two minutes, causing lifelong risk.

“To reverse this tragic drowning trend, every Australian, regardless of postcode or background, must have access to swimming lessons, a great local swimming pool or a safe place to swim.”

Men accounted for more than eight in 10 drowning deaths last financial year.

One third of all drownings — 118 in total — were adults aged 65 and over, which may be “attributable to the effects of other health conditions, use of medications and declining swimming skills”.

Children aged between 5 and 14 had the lowest drowning rates, but there was an alarming four-fold increase in deaths among people aged 15 to 24. Poor swimming skills “are a major factor” in that increase.

There were 154 deaths recorded at coastal locations including beaches, and there were 122 people killed in lakes, dams and rivers, where hazards include hidden currents and steep drop-offs.

Drowning rates are significantly higher in regional and remote areas than compared to Australian cities, and more than one third of all deaths were people born overseas.

The water safety agencies said swimming skills are at “crisis levels”, “potentially at their lowest point since the widespread adoption of school-based programs in the 1970s”, with many children failing to meet national benchmarks.

The report comes as Australians prepare to leave winter behind.

“Never have our surf lifesavers and lifeguards worked harder to keep people safe at beaches, with almost 2.2 million preventative actions and over 8,000 rescues,” Surf Life Saving Australia chief executive Adam Weir said.

“More is being asked of surf lifesavers and lifeguards, as beach usage continues to grow and people explore a wider range of coastal locations.”

Federal Sport Minister Anika Wells said the government had provided $34 million over two years for water safety and drowning prevention.

“The messages are simple; supervise children, learn to swim, prioritise water safety and lifesaving skills, wear a life jacket when boating, and always swim between the red and yellow flags,” Wells said.