Recreational Drowning Deaths in the South West of England

recreational use of water. Information on these 81 drownings is analyzed below, and shown in Table 1. Unfortunately no information is available on the place of residence of these victims, and it is likely that many were visitors to the South West. Nearly half of the deaths occurred in Cornwall, and male victims outnumbered females. The median age of victims depends on the activity associated with drowning. The median age of swimming victims was appreciably younger (by about 15 years) then victims of other activities (median age 33 years). Not surprisingly nearly half of all deaths occur in the summer