Beach water safety on the slide

THE TOLL AT OUR BEACHES:

* 102 coastal drownings in 2014/15, up from 83 the previous year

* 34 swimmer and wader deaths

* Zero deaths between the flags

* An average of 34 lifesaving rescues daily

* 13 rock fishing deaths

* 55 per cent of beachgoers do not swim between the flags at patrolled beaches

* 86 per cent of fatalities were male

* 16 per cent of fatalities a result of rip currents