On a warm sunny day a river swimming hole looks like a great place for a swim. Swimming in rivers is fun but it can be dangerous.
Fast-flowing currents make rivers New Zealand’s most dangerous aquatic environment, and many people do not understand the force of water in a river.
If you swim out of a swimming hole into the river current it's easy to be swept down the river by the force of the water. You could be pulled underwater by the force of the current or pushed against an obstacle, like a rock, and get trapped and drown.
Currents can be strong, even if the river looks calm and the water is slow moving.
Swimming in a river is not like swimming in a pool or in the sea
- River water is much colder than pool or sea water
- You do not float as well in river water as you do in sea water
- If you are in a river current and try to put your feet down your foot could become trapped under rocks
- If you are in a river current you can become trapped against obstacles and strainers or be swept into rapids, waterfalls or weirs
- If you are in a river current you will use a lot of energy to keep yourself afloat as you look to get out of the river at the first safe exit place.
Fatalities around rivers
DrownBase™ Drowning fatalities correct as January 2025. New or changing information over time means drowning numbers adjust
Check for hazards
- Depth of the water
- What is underneath the water
- There is no strong current or risk of being swept into the fast-flowing part of the river
- There is a safe way to get to the jumping or diving spot
- Any objects like a rope or branch that are used for jumping or diving are safe
Take a buddy and actively supervise
Drowning takes less than one minute and is very quiet.
- Do not swim alone. Take a buddy and tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.
- Someone needs to actively watch out for those in the water.
- An adult who is a good swimmer should supervise from in the water, although someone else can provide additional supervision from the river bank.
- Young people should not supervise younger children. Rivers are just too dangerous an aquatic environment to give young people responsibility for younger family members.
.jpg){kind=logo}