Drownings Spike Across The State

Pearl River

Mississippi has one of the highest drowning rates in the country and this year those numbers are spiking even higher. MPB’s Phoebe Judge has more.

New reports of drownings across the state have been appearing steadily for the past month. The latest, Cody Sykes, drowned on Sunday in Lost Lake in Eudora after suffering a cramp while swimming. There have been 24 freshwater drownings in the state already this year, which is twice the amount as this time last year. Those drownings have occurred in all types of waters, but the Pearl River has been especially deadly, with 6 drowning victims. Leake County Sherriff Greg Waggoner, says the Pearl River while beautiful can be very dangerous,

“They may just wade off, they may not be able to swim very well, they may step into a deep hole, and of course these areas have a lot of trees, stumps, things that fall in, just from the natural current of the water taking it into it.”

While there is no good answer for why drownings are up, Rusty Pittman with the Department of Marine Resources says weather may be a contributing factor,

“I believe that the warmer weather started earlier, and people started getting out and enjoying the water more, earlier than they had in the last few years.”

Swimming is also a rather inexpensive activity says Jim Walker with the Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks,

“It’s possible that because of the economy, water and swimming, it’s an inexpensive form of recreation and more people are doing it.”

Along with the number of drowning accidents on the rise, boating accidents have also risen by fifty percent since last year. Officials recommend that anyone taking to the water have someone with them and keep a life jacket close at hand.