Wagga residents and visitors have been urged not to become complacent in the water this summer after the Murrumbidgee River claimed another life on Christmas Day.
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The body of a 25-year-old Victorian man was pulled from the water after he went missing while swimming in a notorious section of the river known as 'The Rocks', just upstream of Wagga Beach.
A multi-agency search operation was sparked when the man failed to resurface about 1pm. He was found near where he was last seen just over an hour later.
Royal Life Saving chief executive Justin Scarr said the Christmas Day drowning served as a tragic reminder of how a family's day could turn from good to bad in an instant.
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Mr Scarr said there were simple water safety practices that people needed to remember before swimming, especially when inland waterways accounted for almost 40 per cent of drowning deaths in the country over the past decade.
The Murrumbidgee has also been identified as one of the drowning black spots in Australia over the years.
"Inland waterways often look flat, calm and still. There are often beach entries ... but people do not necessarily understand the impact of currents, holes and sudden drop offs," Mr Scarr said.
"It is easy for a person to stand in water, but to swim in a river that is moving quickly can become quite problematic for someone."
Following Wednesday's tragedy, The Daily Advertiser readers used social media to raise their concerns about water safety at the river.
The need for lifeguards patrolling Wagga Beach, especially during busy periods, was reiterated by many concerned residents.
Mr Scarr said the lack of lifeguards might be an issue that Wagga City Council might need to revisit. However, there were challenges that come with monitoring inland waterways, he said.
"There are so many swimming locations along rivers and in lakes, so people's recreations are so dispersed across a large area that it is difficult to see a cause for lifeguards," he said.
"But certainly where there are known areas of people frequenting the water, particularly on public holidays, it may be something that should be revisited."
However, Mr Scarr said the community should have faith in the city's council, which has taken "one of the most proactive" approaches to water safety compared to other inland councils in Australia.
"They are one of the first to have a comprehensive drowning prevention plan, which incorporates education for the local school children, hazard mapping for Wagga Beach and they are also strong supporters for local swimming pools," he said.
The Royal Life Saving has launched the 'Make the Right Call' summer campaign, which highlights a common sense approach and advocates simple safety tips for men and women to prevent drowning.
This includes avoiding alcohol around water, wearing a life jacket and avoid swimming, and recreating, alone.
So far, 10 drowning deaths were reported in Australia this summer, all of whom were men.
"We need to change people's attitude to risk and their behaviours around water - especially men," Mr Scarr said. "Most people think 'it won't happen to me'. Our work shows that poor decision making can lead to tragedy".
The cause of the Victorian man's death on Christmas Day will be determined by a coroner.
The latest report by Royal Life Saving Australia revealed that there were 14 drowning deaths in the Murrumbidgee River during the 10 years to June 30 last year.