A toddler who wandered down to the banks, a footballer and strong swimmer in the prime of his life, three sisters bathing together - the water does not discriminate.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
More than 240 drownings have occurred in the Murray River in Albury-Wodonga, the Wodonga Creek and Lake Hume over 173 years.
Hundreds of families, mourning a loved one who just popped out for a swim.
And never returned.
The figure shocked Border historians who spent a month researching official and unofficial drowning records, with assistance from Albury and Border Rescue Squad.
Former Border Mail journalist Howard Jones started the research after Bigul Pandit, 21, drowned at Noreuil Park on January 9.
“I thought maybe 100 people might have drowned since records started in the 1840s," he said.
"It came as a terrible shock as our total climbed to 200 and then to 242.
“The true figure is probably much more as there are a few gaps in records and newspaper files.”
RELATED:
Albury and District Historical Society president Greg Ryan said swimmers needed to recognise the marvellous river could be treacherous and dangerous.
"Since the middle of the nineteenth century there have been few years in which there have been no drownings," he said.
Mr Jones, who swims in the river, said there were many causes of accidental drowning but many were the result of a casual disregard for basic safety precautions.
“Scores of people died because they couldn’t swim and got into deep water or fast currents,” he said.
“They should realise that, beautiful as it is, it is a beast, and the lake has its own hazards.
“Every parent who takes a young child to the lake or river should never take their eyes off a child in water for a second – one girl drowned while her mother was focusing her camera.”
Most drownings recorded were accidental but many were suicides and the list also noted the 1973 murder of Bronwyne Richardson and the killing of toddler Jason Black in 1985.
Ten serving soldiers drowned during World War II.
The full list of drownings can be found on the Albury and District Historical Society’s website.
Receive our daily newsletter straight to your inbox each morning from The Border Mail. Sign up here.
