An National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) study revealed that children under the age of four have the highest prevalence of drownings among all the age categories in South Africa.
The NSRI released its findings of a study on fatal drownings between 2016 and 2012 at a press briefing on Monday.
The finding is on par with international studies and warns parents to diligently supervise their children, especially in light of the upcoming festive season.
The institute said it determined that between 2016 and 2021, drownings occurred more frequently in fresh water in South Africa.
Executive director of drowning prevention at NSRI, Dr Jill Fortuin, said the purpose of the study was to give an overview of fatal drownings in South Africa between 2016 and 2021.
Fortuin said the study shows that drownings were more prevalent among children between the ages of 0 to 4 years.
Local research data shows 2,755 drownings were recorded over a six-year period.
“There have been 2,775 drownings over the six-year period among that age category, which is alarming,” she said, adding that the study also showed that KwaZulu-Natal had the highest number of incidents of drownings.
The Eastern Cape recorded the highest number of drownings with a total of 1,869 drownings recorded.
“It is followed by Gauteng, which has 1006 reported drownings and the fourth province is the Western Cape with 864,” she said.
Fortuin said men represent 81%of all the drownings over the period under review, which can be attributed to more risky behaviour.
“The drowning incidents amongst the 0 to four-year age group is of huge concern. It is the highest drowning burden across all the age groups.”
Fortuin said low-and-middle income countries are the most affected by drownings as they carry 90% of the local drowning burden.
Source: News24, Eyewitness News, image from Twitter: @NSRI