It provides a pretty view, but the Yarra near Southbank is one of the most dangerous stretches of water in Victoria. And that's not just the high bacteria levels. Too often the combination of excess alcohol and the river has led to tragedy.

By BRENDAN KELLY

The Yarra River is a beautiful river and a symbol of the city of Melbourne. Southbank in particular is a popular spot to unwind on a weekend, with its bars, restaurants and the city lights reflecting off the waters.

Walking along the river you can pass buskers playing the Chinese erhu, a jazz line on the saxophone and a Spanish flamenco guitar; it’s easy to see why the area is so popular.

But this stretch of the Yarra River has a darker side too; the sight of drunken men and women staggering out of restaurants and on to the streets is all too common.

Too often, perhaps guided by a sense of invincible recklessness, they try to swim across the Yarra. Too often they don’t make it out alive.

In 2012 The Age reported the death of Irish tourist Keith Flower, who tried to swim across the river with a friend. The friend survived thanks to the intervention of a nearby bartender.

In 2011 Son Man Song drowned in the Yarra in similar circumstances. He had gone out with some friends eating drinking and when the meal was over he decided to make good on a bet that if he failed to give up smoking he would swim across the river.

Coroner John Olle, who investigated both deaths, asked the Coroners' Prevention Unit to “ascertain whether the deaths of Son Man Song and Keith Flower were isolated events or part of a broader phenomenon”.

They found that from January 2000 to June 2013, 14 similar deaths were reported in that stretch of the river. Alcohol was involved in 11 of those cases.

In comparison, Victoria’s worst beach for drowning over a similar period was reported by the Herald Sun to be Warrnambool, with eight drownings.

Leading Sen-Constable Gary Squires, of the Victorian Water Police, says he believes the main area affected is the Yarra around the Southbank area.

It seems clear that people aren't swimming there for pleasure. In 2012 the Herald Sun reported  E coli levels at South Yarra were 17 times higher than the acceptable level for rowers and 85 times higher than the acceptable rate for swimmers.

Sen-Constable Squires admits the Water Police aren't there to stop people entering the river.

But “once they’re in there, then it’s our job to get them out”, he says.

This approach contrasts to that of the founding director of drowning prevention and awareness charity Hannah’s Foundation, Andrew Plint, who wants to see a focus primarily on awareness and preventative policies. In  2007 Mr Plint said: “There is no cure for drowning – only prevention.”

Coroner Mr Olle also seems wants to focus on preventing people from entering the river. He recommended that the City of Melbourne work on measures to “prevent or deter alcohol-affected persons from entering the Yarra River”.

Life Saving Victoria’s manager of research and injury prevention, Dr Bernadette Matthews, has been trying to raise awareness of just how dangerous swimming while intoxicated can be.

“It is likely that cultural influences on drinking alcohol near aquatic locations is a contributing factor,” she says.

The areas where alcohol and bodies of water are side by side would seem then to be a perfect place for targeted messages highlighting the dangers of swimming while intoxicated.

After Son Man Song’s death, Mr Olle also asked “whether the stretch of the river between the Punt Rd Bridge and West Gate Bridge is an appropriate location to trial any interventions aimed at reducing alcohol related unintentional drowning, given that there appears to be a disproportionately high frequency of drownings in this area”.

Dr Matthews says this recommendation is still “under consideration”.

Questions have also been asked if the irresponsible service of alcohol plays a role in these drownings. Sen-Constable Squires believes alcohol-providers lie at the heart of this issue.

“At the end of the day, it comes back to responsible service of alcohol,” he said.

The executive director of the Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia, Gordon Broderick, disputes this view, and suggests the industry is being unfairly blamed for alcohol abuse.

“You have to look at the specifics of each case … how can you put the responsibility on the alcohol-provider? These people might be bringing their own drinks. They might not even be served alcohol,” he says.

Regardless of who is responsible, it is clear alcohol plays a significant part in drownings across the state.

Dr Matthews says the statistics are clear. “In Victoria, over 20 per cent of drowning deaths involve alcohol,” she says.

Royal Life Saving has campaigns aimed at highlighting the dangers of swimming while intoxicated.

Its Swim Safe Swim Sober study into the cause of drownings in NSW found mixing swimming with alcohol could lead to impaired judgement, a lack of co-ordination, greater risk of hypothermia and even a spasmodic closure of the windpipe.

However, there have been problems raising funds for programs which promote this water safety message.

Coroner Kim Parkinson,  while investigating the alcohol-related drowning in the Murray River  of Daryl Rolton in 2009, recommended that state and local governments provide funding to Life Saving VIctoria so they could promote public safety messages “as to the danger of alcohol-related drowning”.

LSV, whose Don’t Drink and Drown program was successful in Western Australia, responded to the Coroner by saying it needed funding to be able to run the program locally.

Dr Matthews confirms that the Don’t Drink and Drown program did not receive funding, despite the court's recommendations.

However LSV and the Play it Safe by the Water campaign say they are hoping to find a way to use existing funding for aspects of the program.

The Department of Justice, when asked if its Water Safety Program would consider funding LSV’s Don’t Drink and Drown program, would not comment.

Dr Matthews insists, however, that the Victorian Government remains a committed partner to the LSV in promoting water safety messages despite the lack of funding in this area.

Mr Plint, from Hannah's Foundation, says that despite many recommendations for improvement, nothing has changed.

“State coroners have been holding inquests for many years and have been making recommendations in relation to drowning prevention and it is through these recommendations that State Governments and national bodies have been drafting and implementing programs,” he said in comments published by the Australian Water Safety Conference 2012.

“The same questions have been asked, answered and recommendations made, time and time again, without any real changes being made to the legislation, campaigns and the loss of lives through drowning.”

Currently the findings of Mr Olle into the drowning of Son Man Song are under consideration by lifesaving organisations. LSV has  met with Victoria Police and the City of Melbourne to discuss this issue.