Effects of COVID-19 and Bushfires on Coastal Drowning

The COVID-19 pandemic altered beach behaviour and coastal use, both by government mandated beach closures and self-regulated decisions to seek more remote areas, prompting serious questions about the impact on safety. In Australia, the COVID-19 outbreak immediately followed the worst bushfire season on record: the ‘black summer’ fires burned 18.6 million hectares (46 million acres), killed at least 34 people, significantly reduced air quality, and forced thousands to evacuate (many via water) with many still working to rebuild their homes and lives. The 2019/20 bushfires are estimated to cost a staggering $100 billion. 

A new study found that, in addition to many other facts of life, the unprecedented combination of events impacted on profile of coastal drowning in Australia. 

The study was recently published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, authored by Dr Jaz Lawes and Dr Amy Peden in collaboration with Surf Life Saving Australia researchers Luke Strasiotto and Shane Daw. You can read the open access (free!) study exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and catastrophic bushfires on fatal unintentional coastal drowning in Australia here. 

Swimming and wading activities traditionally record the most coastal drowning deaths, but for the first time since records began in July 2004, boating and personal watercraft (PWC)-related incidents resulted in the largest number of coastal drowning deaths for 2019/20. Boat sales in Australia were up 50%, and New South Wales Maritime figures showed a 40% rise in registration transfers for secondhand boats.  When comparing drowning deaths during the bushfire and COVID-19 periods to the previous 15-year average, boating and PWC related deaths were 2.9 times higher during the bushfire period and 3.9 times higher during the COVID-19 period. Rock fishing fatalities also increased during both periods, 4.2 times higher during the bushfires and 3.8 times higher during the COVID-19 period. 

This is the first study to explore impacts of COVID-19 on drowning in Australia and only the second study globally. A recent paper published by colleagues from the University of Windsor in Canada (Check it out here) also found an increase in beach drowning during COVID-19 compared to the pre-COVID-19 period in the Great Lakes of North America. That study argued the increase is due to a combination of reduced local lifeguard resources, cancelled swimming lessons, large beach crowds, warm weather, high water levels and self-isolation fatigue. 

The findings of these two studies differ from reductions in road traffic fatalities associated with COVID-19 related lockdowns as was noted in this study and this study. It is clear COVID-19 (and the bushfires in Australia) resulted in changes in activity patterns leading to coastal drowning fatalities. In addition to mad increases in boat sales, there was also a surfboard shortage in Australia! This is despite restricted movement and thus opportunity for coastal participation. It is important that coastal drowning prevention and beach safety advocates understand, and prepare for, the impacts of natural hazards on drowning risk and therefore, preventive efforts.

Interested to discuss COVID-19 impacts on drowning risk? Get in touch! You can read the full paper here.

Photo by Allison Marion. Evacuating Mallacoota

, Victoria. Photo and story available here.

Also check out the Australian National Maritime Exhibit "Remembering the fires from the waters edge"