Almost half (47%) of drowning victims in South Africa are children under 10 years old, according to a study that looked at South African Police Services’ drownings data over a six-year period, from 2016 to 2021. The study was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Four out of five children who drown are younger than five. That’s nearly one young child a day over a the six-year period.

An overwhelming majority of the victims are male (81%). Studies show males are more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviour than females.

Most drownings happen in fresh water (eg dams, lagoons and reservoirs). The rest happen in the ocean, pools, homes and unspecified areas.