Drownings - Home & Garden

Each year up to 11 children are killed as a result of drowning in the garden. Research shows that such incidents are more likely to happen in someone else’s garden. In fact 80% of pond drownings happen in gardens belonging to neighbours, relatives and friends. Drowning is the third largest cause of accidental death in the home in under-fives. Most deaths occur in July and August when children are home from school and playgroup. There were 90 fatal drowning incidents involving children aged five and under between 1992 and 1999. These related to the following water features:

• 62 related to garden ponds

• 18 related to swimming and paddling pools

• 10 related to other water containers.

Boys account for 78% of all drowning incidents in the UK. The most at risk are one and two year olds.

Last updated: 05 January 2005

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