Sydney, Jan. 7 -- Australian lifeguards have issued a safety warning after a spate of drownings across the country in the beginning of the summer.
According to data from Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS), Australia's peak water safety, swimming and lifeguard education organisation, 44 people have drowned in the country since the start of summer on Dec. 1.
It equaled the 44 drowning deaths in the same period in 2023-24 and was slightly above the five-year average for the period of 41 drowning deaths.
Of the 44 drowning deaths, 13 occurred in the period between Christmas Day on Dec. 25 and New Year's Day on Jan. 1.
William Koon, the national manager of drowning prevention strategy at the RLSS, said on Tuesday that swimming skills h...