Refugees, migrants at greater risk of drowning are being urged to learn to swim

Teaching adult migrants and refugees how to swim should be part of welcoming new arrivals to help prevent tragic deaths, according to water safety experts.

Sixteen people, all born overseas, have drowned in the past 10 years in the Coffs Harbour region of NSW, according to Royal Life Saving Australia.

The Coffs Coast is a major resettlement area for migrants and refugees.

These figures have prompted the CEO and founder of Aquatic Tutoring Australia, Grant Lawler, to improve the swimming capacity and competency among this high-risk group of new arrivals.

Mr Lawler commented that one of his Yazidi…