Early figures from Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) show that 53 people have died in coastal drownings in Australia over summer.

Key points: Figures show Australian beaches have had their deadliest summer since 2004

Figures show Australian beaches have had their deadliest summer since 2004 NSW recorded the highest figures with 35 people drowning on the state's beaches

NSW recorded the highest figures with 35 people drowning on the state's beaches Surf lifesavers conducted 11,000 rescues nationally between July 1, 2018 to April 28, 2019

While the 2018-19 data is yet to be validated, the figure far exceeds the 14-year average of 37.

The summer period from December to March showed this was the worst summer on record since the recording of data by Surf Life Saving Australia in 2004.

And the SLSA's Shane Daw said the toll was continuing to rise.

"We know that summer and holiday periods are peak times for incidents, however drowning happens all year round, SLSA's Shane Daw said.

"Tragically, the surf lifesaving family lost two of its own when they went to rescue a person in distress."

Mr Daw said to have another seven lives lost during the Easter long weekend was devastating.

'Tragedy that ripples through the community'

Queensland, Victoria and South Australia have seen more incidents than usual, while Western Australia and Tasmania recorded relatively low numbers.

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In New South Wales there have been fewer coastal drownings this season than the previous season, but the state's coastal drowning deaths were 35 for the summer.

That includes English backpacker, Hugo Palmer, and his French friend, Erwan Ferrieux, who went missing in the ocean off Port Macquarie in February this year.

Their personal items, including towels, sunglasses, car keys, and thongs were found on the beach, but the pair were never located.

"This is an enormous tragedy," Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce said.

"One drowning is, but to say 35 — you can just imagine how that ripples throughout the community.

"At the moment we're just below the previous 10-year average — however, we still don't take that as a success though."

Flowers were placed near Hugo Palmer and Erwan Ferrieux's personal items at beachside vigil in Port Macquarie. ( ABC News: Luisa Rubbo )

Surf lifesavers in NSW clocked off for the season last weekend after more than 3,500 rescues since July last year, while nationally there were more than 11,000 rescues.

"There would undoubtedly be hundreds of persons walking around today who owe their lives to the brave actions of our lifesavers," Mr Pearce said.

Unpatrolled beaches have added to the toll. In Queensland, a man died while swimming off a notoriously dangerous unpatrolled beach off North Stradbroke Island in January.

Drownings while swimming and rock fishing

As usual, swimming was the most at-risk activity for drowning, accounting for 35 per cent of all coastal drowning deaths.

"But also among that is a high representation of rock fishermen and we're coming into that period now with autumn and winter where the rock fishermen are out in force," Mr Pearce said.

In January, a 20-year-old man was swept out to sea after falling from the rocks while fishing at Browns Beach in South Australia.

"Again we turn our messages now to the importance of safety on the rock platforms and about the importance of wearing lifejackets when rock fishing," Mr Pearce said.

Who is drowning?

Mr Pearce said the primary victims of coastal drownings were young Australian males aged between 29 and 35.

"Because we've seen such a spike in the representation of non-English speaking backgrounds, at risk communities, we're really going to be working hard in the off-season to engage these communities to enhance water safety, understanding and preparedness leading into this coming summer," he said.

"We try and aim for zero drowning deaths and to do that we need to just continually work with the community about the importance of water safety, about the importance of understanding and identifying rips, the importance of swimming at patrolled locations, the importance of people understanding their own swimming capabilities."

He said throughout the winter period, SLSA would be working with schools and all at-risk community groups to spread those messages.

A sign at Cape Carnot near Port Lincoln in SA where a father and daughter drowned. ( ABC News: Brooke Neindorf )

Unnecessary risks

Mr Daw said while further research was required, SLSA had recorded at least 23 coastal drowning deaths in the past 14 years due to people looking for that perfect photo or "selfie".

While none of the drownings in NSW this season can be formally attributed to the 'selfie phenomenon', Mr Pearce urged people not to take unnecessary risks around popular and picturesque tourist attractions, such as Figure Eight Pools south of Sydney.

"Yes, we have seen so many rescues over this past summer season and deaths where people have taken those risks, doing the obligatory selfie and have come unstuck, had been washed off the rocks or fallen off cliff edges," he said.

"I would have no doubt that mixed within some of the other fatalities that we've responded to there have been persons taking risky behaviour whether they've been selfies or putting themselves in a position of risk where they shouldn't have, and unfortunately have come unstuck and paid the ultimate price," he said.

He said no photograph was worth risking a life or risking the life of those first responders who had to come to people's rescue or, in the event of a tragedy, retrieve their bodies.