Research explores mortality risk among surfers and bodyboarders

A new study into the mortality risk for surfers and bodyboarders in Australia has offered valuable insight.

Led by Surf Life Saving Australia, the UNSW Beach Safety Research Group and Surfing Medicine International, the study used SLSA’s comprehensive coastal fatality database, as well as exposure and participation data sourced via their National Coastal Safety Survey.

The study identified 155 surfer and bodyboarder deaths over the 16-year period of which nine out of 10 were male.

Commenting on the findings, Dr Jaz Lawes, study lead and the principal researcher at Surf Life Saving Australia, Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the School of BEES and the Beach Safety Research Group, advised “surfing and bodyboarding are popular, low-risk coastal activities, but this study shows there is more we can do to improve safety. We are urging everyone, men in particular, to get the basics right before going for a surf.

Most surfers and bodyboarders who died were paddling with friends or family, and more incidents were recorded during rising and low tide periods. Older surfers (55 years and above) and those who lived 50km or more from the coast, had higher exposure-adjusted mortality rates than younger surfers and those residing closer to the coast. For deaths that were not due to drowning, cardiac conditions were identified as a dominant cause.

Emergency Specialist Dion van de Schoot from Surfing Medicine International, added “surfers represent a dedicated, closeknit community with a more advanced ocean skillset compared to most.

“This knowledge, along with their high levels of fitness and their board doubling as a flotation device, means that they are also represent an important form of bystander rescue or supervision to others in the water.

“Given the role surfers can play as bystander rescuers, basic lifesaving and CPR training should continue to be strongly promoted within the surfing community.”

Dr Amy Peden, Research Fellow in UNSW’s School of Population Health and UNSW Beach Safety Research Group, went on to say “Australia has access to some of the best surf breaks in the world. Anecdotally the popularity of surfing in Australia has rapidly increased since the pandemic, yet we found very little prior research on the risk of surfing.

“It was timely that we explored factors impacting on surfer and bodyboarder harm so we can improve their safety.”

 To further understand surfers attitudes towards safety, and experiences in conducting bystander rescues, researchers are encouraging surfers to participate in the Global Surfer Survey to have a say on issues affecting surfers.

Find out more on Drowning Resuscitation for Surfers visit surfingmed.com/learn

Image courtesy of Surf Life Saving Australia.