Ten people drown in Ireland each month on average, with 70% of them males

Among the details in the Water Safety Ireland report is that 61% of accidental drownings were preceded by the victim being engaged in a land-based activity such as walking, fishing from land, cycling, or driving. iStock

An average of 10 people drown every month in Ireland, with males accounting for 70% of all drownings and over half the victims aged between 40 and 69, a major new study has found.

Between 2017 and 2021, a total of 588 people drowned — down 17% on the previous five-year study — according to figures released by Water Safety Ireland.

There was an average of 118 drownings per year between 2017 and 2021, down from an average of 140 per year from 2012 to 2016.

The five-year analysis shows that a total of 388 (58%) of the drownings were accidental, 222 (38%) were classed as suicide, and 28 were undetermined.

The national drowning study also shows that men accounted for 70%, or 411, of all the drownings, with those aged between 40 and 69 years accounting for half, or 349, of the deaths.

Eighteen people aged under 18 — 12 male and six female — drowned in the most recent study period.

The report also shows that 61% of the accidental drownings were preceded by the victim being engaged in a land-based activity such as walking, hiking, foraging, fishing from land, cycling, or driving.

Water Safety Ireland chairwoman Clare McGrath says it is hoped data it has gathered will help the development of strategies to reduce drownings.

A quarter of the accidental drownings (338) were preceded by swimming, bathing, or other water-based activities excluding the use of any watercraft.

Drownings were recorded in all provinces, with almost 40% of all drownings in Leinster, 32% in Munster, 18% in Connacht, and almost 10% in Ulster.

Dublin had the highest number of drownings, with 17, followed by Cork with 16 and Wexford with 8.

Coastal counties had 1.9 drownings per 100,000 residents, with inland counties accounting for 1.6 drownings per 100,000 residents.

Provisional figures for 2023 indicate that 78 people drowned, 15 fewer than in 2022 when 93 drowned.

The report is released today, Thursday July 25, to coincide with World Drowning Prevention Day which calls on people to take every precaution in, on, and near water.

Water Safety Ireland chairwoman Clare McGrath said people often drown due to unexpected falls or when overestimating their ability and underestimating the risk.

“This report will inform data-driven initiatives to focus attention on where and how they are most needed,” she said.

“It’s a tragic loss and for every person that dies the effect devastates families, friends, and colleagues.

“This report marks an important point where we must understand the starting point of the problem to be sure of the directions to go, and how best to get there.

“I believe that this report is a necessary prelude to develop and implement targeted strategies to significantly reduce drownings in Ireland.

“The combined efforts of volunteers, partners, individuals, and organisations with data driven initiatives will focus attention where and how it is most needed.

“It employs learnings from aquatic environments across Ireland and is part of Water Safety Ireland’s efforts to support Ireland’s five-year strategic development plan to elevate water safety in Irish culture.”