More than 60 people have died in Australian waterways since the start of the 2023-24 summer, a 19 per cent increase from the previous year.

Over a quarter of the drownings have been in rivers, creeks, lakes and dams, while men make up 84 per cent of all the summer deaths.

Research by Royal Life Saving Australia showed drowning risks increased on public holidays.

With the Australia Day long weekend approaching, the organisation is reiterating its “Make the Right Call” campaign, which encourages men to look after their mates and keep each other safe around water.

The campaign is aimed towards men aged 25 to 45 years, a group at high risk of drowning, to raise awareness and educate them about the dangers and consequences of their actions around water.

Chief executive Justin Scarr said the message was especially targeted at people planning on boating, swimming and fishing over the long weekend.

“The use of alcohol and drugs around water causes men to overestimate their swimming abilities, underestimate the dangers of hazards like currents, water depth and changes in conditions, both a recipe for increased drowning over the holiday weekend,” he said.

“The best way for men to stay safe around water this weekend is to avoid alcohol when you’re around water, wear a life jacket if you are boating or fishing and never go alone.”

Between December 1 and Monday, 62 people had drowned in Australia, compared to 53 at the same time in 2023.

The figure is also already higher than the five-year average of 60 summer drowning deaths.

Several deaths were the result of storms and flooding in Queensland, while several people have also drowned at beaches across NSW, in some cases while attempting to rescue others.

Two men died in separate incidents on NSW Central Coast beaches on Christmas Day, while a man in his 30s drowned after falling from a paddleboard at Sydney’s newly opened Penrith Beach on Boxing Day.