Teenage drownings have soared by more than 30 per cent over the past five years, shocking new data has revealed, sparking urgent calls for parents to keep their children in swimming lessons past the age of seven.

Alarming new figures from Royal Life Saving Australia found drownings in teenagers and young adults between 15 and 20-years-old had climbed by 34 per cent since 2021 compared to the five years prior.

While 60 per cent of children began swimming lessons before the age of three, the research found most dropped out before they turned seven-years-old.

Shockingly, about 50 per cent of 10-year-olds and 40 per cent of 15-year-olds also revealed they could not swim 50 metres, putting them at a life-long risk of drowning.

Royal Life Saving WA advocacy and research manager Lauren Nimmo

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