On World Drowning Prevention Day, we at Swimdo want to share a story that underscores the harsh reality of drowning in Indonesia.
Just a few weeks ago, on July 21, 2025, during one of our teaching sessions, a 9-year-old girl nearly drowned at a public swimming pool. She had been swimming alone while her family, unaware of the danger, was sitting outside the pool enjoying snacks. They had started to look for her—but no one noticed she was at the bottom of the pool. It wasn’t until one of our instructors was alerted by a concerned parent that something was wrong. She had been underwater for so long unnoticed that no one realized what had happened. Like many pools across Indonesia, there was no lifeguard on duty.
Our team sprang into action. She was pulled from the water, her lips pale, her body limp. It was a terrifying moment. But thanks to the quick and skilled response of Jodie, one of our amazing volunteers from Tasmania, and another volunteer from the UK, CPR was administered immediately. Because of them, her life was saved.
She spent five days recovering in the hospital before doctors confirmed she was no longer in danger. This was a close call—and a painful reminder of why Swimdo exists.
Indonesia has one of the highest child drowning rates in the world.
15 are the most at risk. Yet, most of them never receive any formal swim training or water safety education. Pools, rivers, beaches—none are safe without awareness and preparedness.
The reality is if we hadn’t had trained volunteers on-site that day, the outcome could have been tragic. Sadly, in many similar situations across Indonesia, drowning ends in death simply because people don’t know how to respond quickly or properly.
This lack of awareness is widespread. Most people don’t realize that every second counts, and without immediate action, a child’s life can be lost. The ability to recognize drowning signs, perform CPR, and act swiftly can make the difference between life and death.
This is why we do what we do at Swimdo. We provide free survival swimming and water safety education to children in high-risk communities. But our work is far from finished. Millions of children across Indonesia still lack access to these life-saving skills.
We can’t do it alone.