The National Drowning Report released today has found the country had its highest number of drowning deaths since records began.

Over the last 12 months, a staggering 357 people have died from drowning.

This is 27 per cent higher than the 10-year average, according to Royal Life Saving and Surf Life Saving.

The drowning rate for people aged between 15 and 24 recorded the biggest spike, with 44 people in this age group drowning – an increase of 38 per cent against the 10-year average.

The lowest rate of drowning was for children aged between five and 14 years.

And one third of all drowning deaths were adults aged over 65.

”This is a wake-up call,” Royal Life Saving Australia chief executive Justin Scarr said.

“Drowning deaths have surged to unprecedented levels.

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

Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia blamed the surge on more tourism in national parks and regional areas, along with climate and lifestyle shifts.

It noted gaps in swimming ability are widening for regional, remote, and migrant communities, creating “lifelong vulnerabilities to drowning”.

“Rip currents remain Australia’s number one coastal hazard, responsible for more than 1one in three beach drowning deaths – claiming more lives than sharks, floods, or cyclones combined,” Surf Live Saving chief executive Adam Weir said.

“Never have our surf lifesavers and lifeguards worked harder to keep people safe at beaches, with almost 2.2 million preventative actions and over 8000 rescues.

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

Coastal locations accounted for 154 of the deaths, with beaches claiming 82 lives.

Another 122 people died while drowning at inland waterways, including 99 in rivers.

The report found drowning rates doubled for people living in disadvantaged areas and nearly tripled in regional and remote areas compared to major cities.

Drownings increased in every state and territory except Tasmania and in the Northern Territory.

There was only one drowning death in the ACT in the past year.

The biggest increase was in South Australia, where drowning deaths were a 71 per cent increase on the 10-year average.

Federal Minister for Communications and Minister for Sport Anika Wells said the government has poured $34 million into addressing water safety.

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