To mark the start of National Drowning Prevention Week, the BC Coroners Service has released its latest report on accidental drowning deaths across the province—and while overall numbers are down, Northern B.C. continues to see a disproportionately high risk.
The 2024 report shows 98 people died by accidental drowning in B.C., an 18 percent drop from 119 deaths in 2023. The majority of victims were male, and more than half the deaths occurred in summer months. Rivers and lakes were the most common locations.
Northern Health recorded nine of those deaths, giving it a drowning rate of three per 100,000 people—second only to the Interior Health region, and well above the provincial average of 1.7. Over the past decade, the North has consistently reported one of the highest rates in B.C.
Long-term data also shows that alcohol and drug use were contributing factors in about 40 percent of drowning deaths, especially among adults under 70.
Authorities are urging the public to take extra care around water as warmer weather continues, especially in unsupervised natural settings like rivers and lakes. The report aims to highlight key risks and promote water safety across the province.
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