Marine Safety in Victoria Report 2007-2008 (PDF, 1.3 MB, 72 pp.)

5.4 Fatalities and hospital-treated recreational boating-related
injuries 2006/7
There were two boating-related drowning fatalities recorded on the National Coroners Information
System (NCIS) and 902 hospital-treated recreational boating injury cases (223 admissions and 679 ED
presentations, non admissions) recorded on hospital injury surveillance databases over the period July
2006 to June 2007. MIR system data for 2006/7 (reported last year) showed 3 fatal and
5.4.1 Deaths (n=3)
Fatality data analysed here are for cases recorded in 2006/7, whereas MIR fatalities reported earlier are for
2007/8. Fatality data were sourced from the NCIS.
According to the NCIS there were three recreational boating-related injury fatalities in Victoria in 2006/7,
the same number as in 2005/6. All three deaths were fishers, one drowned after falling into the water from
a powered half-cabin vessel when putting out craypots, another had a heart attack and fell into the water
and drowned and the third was found dead in the water with his life jacket and some fishing line tangled
around his wrist. None was wearing a PFD when retrieved from the water.
The same three deaths were recorded on the MIR system in 2006/7 and were included in MUARC’s last
report. The other two deaths recorded on the MIR system in 2006/7 were recreational vessel ‘response
only’ incidents – the drowning deaths of a boogie boarder and a scuba diver – and are not ‘in scope’ for
boating related injury deaths on the NCIS.
The circumstances of the three boating-related fatalities recorded on the NCIS for 2006/7 were as follows.
A common recorded contributory factor to all the fatal incidents was non-wearing of PFD.
• The deceased, a 57 year-old male, and a friend were fishing in a 4.9m half cabin cruiser. Neither was
wearing a Personal Flotation Device (PFD). Whilst putting out some clay pots, the deceased fell into the
water. The friend tried to assist, however a wave hit the boat on he side, causing it to roll. The friend
was thrown into the water. The friend was rescued but the deceased was not. The Coroner indicated
that it was likely that had the deceased been wearing a PFD, he would not have drowned.
• The deceased, a 32 year-old male, was fishing in a small boat approximately one km off shore. He
was seen by witnesses to be doubling over, was heard to make an unusual loud noise and then fell
into the water. He was not wearing a PFD. Witnesses found the deceased motionless and face down
in the water. The Coroner indicated that, had the deceased been wearing a PFD, there is a chance
that the outcome may have been different. Death was attributed to coronary artery arthrosclerosis in
circumstances suggestive of drowning.
• The deceased, a 73 year-old male, left his home to go fishing (a regular pastime) in his 5.5m. timber
boat. When he did not return home, a search was conducted. The boat was located about 800 metres
off shore with the lights on and anchor up. The engine was idling in neutral. The deceased was found
in the water, floating on his back. A life jacket was tangled around his wrist.
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