There were 93 accidental drownings in B.C. in 2025, updated B.C. Coroners Service data shows.
The B.C. Coroners Service updated its accidental drowning deaths report on Thursday (June 4), detailing deaths from 2015 to 2025. The 93 deaths in 2025 were a five-per-cent decrease from the 98 deaths reported in 2024.
Thirty-six of the deaths in 2025 were reported during the summer months, with 10 in June, 11 in July and 15 in August. There were drowning deaths reported every month in 2025, with the fewest in December with two deaths.
Eighty-six per cent of the 2025 deaths were male.
In 2025, people aged 70 or older accounted for 23 per cent of deaths, followed by the 19 to 29 age group which reported 20 per cent of the drowning deaths.
Ninety-one per cent of the people who died were residents of B.C.
Interior and Fraser health authorities reported the highest number of deaths, with 24 and 22, respectively. Based on Health Service Delivery Areas, the highest death rates were in Kootenay Boundary with 4.5 per 100,000 people, the Thompson Cariboo Shuswap with 3.5 and Fraser East with 3.5.
Last year, most deaths happened in lakes or ponds. There were 27 accidental drownings in lakes or ponds. It was followed by 19 deaths in rivers or creeks and 19 deaths in baths.
The coroners service says the most-common activity associated with drowning deaths was swimming with 22 death, or 24 per cent. It was followed by bathing with 19 deaths and unintentional fall into water with 16 deaths.
The report notes that there may be more than one contributing factor to an accidental drowning – that could include alcohol and/or drugs. However, that data is not yet available for 2025.
Between 2015 and 2024, alcohol and/or drugs were identified as a contributing factor in 40 per cent of accidental drowning deaths. Impairment in accidental drownings was lowest among people aged 19 and under, with 13 per cent of deaths and with people aged 70 and older with 12 per cent of deaths.
Accidental drowning deaths from 2015 to 2025
Between Jan. 1, 2015 and Dec. 31, 2025, there were 884 accidental drowning deaths in B.C.
The most drowning deaths were reported in 2023 with 120 fatal drownings. It was followed by 102 deaths in 2022.
The fewest deaths were reported in 2016 with 67 deaths.
Over the 11 years, the drowning deaths typically spiked in July.