Sydney, NSW, Australia – July 23, 2025 – In alignment with World Drowning Prevention Day, on 25 July 2025, renowned Bondi Rescue Head Lifeguard Bruce "Hoppo" Hopkins and Float to Survive Australia have set out to elevate awareness on life-saving floating techniques aiming to reduce drowning incidents across Australia.
Each year, drowning claims the lives of over 236,000 people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Many of these tragedies are preventable. This year's global campaign focuses on empowering communities with practical skills that save lives—and at the heart of the message is the power of floating.
According to the 2024 National Drowning Report, drownings rose by 16% above the 10-year average, with seniors and culturally diverse communities disproportionately affected.
Lifeguarding Bondi Beach since 1991 and head of Waverley lifeguards, Hoppo has rescued thousands of people and helped shape national water‑safety policy through Surf Educators International and Australian Professional Ocean Lifeguard Association (APOLA) leadership.
Float to Survive emphasises a simple but powerful technique: stop panicking, lean back, breathe gently, and float—buying crucial time until help arrives.
In November 2024, Hoppo fronted GOswim lessons at 80 venues nationwide, embedding five minutes of floating training into 250,000 lessons, reaching 60,000+ students. The campaign improved water‑safety knowledge and open-water confidence by 20%.
"When people get into trouble in the water, their first instinct is to panic. But the most important thing you can do is stop, calm down, and float," says Bruce Hopkins, who has spent over 30 years patrolling Bondi Beach. "Learning to float can buy you time, save your energy, and give rescuers a chance to get to you."
This World Drowning Prevention Day, Hoppo and Float to Survive are calling on schools, parents, and community leaders to help spread this message and teach floating as a core water safety skill.
