A total of 37 people have died by drowning in Donegal in the past seven years, it has been revealed.
That’s according to a national drowning report by Water Safety Ireland (WSI).
The review, published in recent days, revealed there were 32 such deaths in the county between 2017 and 2021, as well as a further five from 2022 to 2023. The highest number of deaths occurred in 2019 when ten people lost their lives by drowning here. Of the 32 drownings between 2017 and 2021, 59% (19) of them were classified as ‘accidental’.
Only three other counties, Dublin, Cork and Galway, recorded a higher number of drownings in the same five year period.
Between 2017 and 2021, the data also revealed that the average deaths by drowning in Donegal was 3.8 per 100,000 residents. In the past two years, the average had dropped to 1.8.
The numbers for 2022 and 2023 are provisional CSO figures, which are subject to change.
Today is World Drowning Prevention Day. Garda McGreal from the Community Policing Unit in Buncrana paid a visit to meet members of Lough Swilly RNLI (below) to mark the day and to raise awareness about drowning prevention.
Meanwhile, provisional figures also show that, nationally, 78 people died by drowning in 2023, 15 fewer than in 2022.
Between 2017 and 2021, data from the CSO revealed that 57% of drownings were accidental.
Over 80% of all drownings were in coastal areas, while 70% of recorded drownings involved males.
CEO of Water Safety Ireland Joanne Walsh said people are being “more safety aware”.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, she noted that 60% of accidental drowning deaths come from “land-based activities”, such as people walking on cliffs, hiking or out foraging.
She said the proportion of drownings related to swimming, bathing and diving is “coming down” and now makes up around 25% of all drownings.
Drownings based on land-based activities will be a primary area of focus going forward, Ms Walsh said.
She reminded the public to “remember the acronym SAFE”.
“SAFE – Stay away from edges. If you’re out walking during the summer, there’s a lot of growth,” she said.
“You may not see the edge of that river. You may not see the edge of the lake.
“During wintertime as well though, the edges aren’t as strong as they are during the summer, the soil could break away.
“So please be mindful if you’re going out walking. Be mindful of the edges.”
Co Mayo had the highest instance of drownings in 2023, with eight drownings recorded per 100,000 residents, while Co Cork had the highest total number of drownings last year with 15.
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