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Your story can save a life: why storytelling matters on World Drowning Prevention Day
July 25 is World Drowning Prevention Day, and the 2025 theme is “Your Story Can Save a Life”.
This year, Water Safety New Zealand joins the WHO in encouraging everyone to share their drowning-related stories to raise awareness of water safety.
“Storytelling is a powerful tool,” says Elizabeth Collins, communications manager for Water Safety New Zealand.
“A single story can cut through statistics and remind people what’s really at stake. That’s why we see today not just as a one-off awareness day, but as the spark for a much wider and ongoing national conversation around water safety in New Zealand.”
Why it matters
Seventy-four people drowned in Aotearoa last year – of those 88% were adults. When it comes to craft-related drownings, 94% were not wearing a lifejacket.
To advocate for change, members of Water Safety New Zealand – including ex-Navy diver Rob Hewitt and interventions manager Esther Hone – share their stories.
Even the iconic Bro’Town team have joined the conversation, with a reminder of character Vale Pepelo, who almost drowned in Series 3.
Voiced by Oscar Kightley, this storyline hits close to home as he had a near-drowning experience in his 20s.
Share a story to save lives
“Stories like Oscar’s – and those from our own team – show vulnerability. They connect and they stick with people,” says Collins.
“They help shift the culture. And that’s exactly what we need. We can all learn from sharing our stories – modern communication tools, like social media can really help with that.
“Data also helps us improve the effectiveness of our message. Water Safety New Zealand is backed by a comprehensive database – DrownBase, which helps us pinpoint at risk demographics and locations,” Collins adds.
“Nearly 20% of drownings last year were at known high risk locations. We consider drowning solvable – and the power is in prevention.
“As the lead agency for water safety in Aotearoa, we’re proud to support World Drowning Prevention Day alongside our partners.
“But this is bigger than a day. It’s about building a culture of water safety – storytelling and media are essential tools in achieving that. We encourage you to share your water story. Post it. Talk about it. Reflect with friends and family. Every story shared is a chance to save a life,” says Collins.
