A total of 346 cases were identified for inclusion in this study, including all cases which initially presented to us as possible or probable deaths due to drowning. Overall, the total number of bodies admitted to the mortuary over the study period was 23 050. The study cases constituted between 1.1 and 1.8% of the annual case load at the PMLL. Upon conclusion of the medico-legal autopsy and investigation, 278 of the 346 cases were considered to have died due to drowning, thus collectively comprising 1.2% of the case load. The drowning cases contributed between 0.8% and 1.6% to the total case load. Fig. 1 displays the number of drowning cases per year and shows ain relation to the total case load. The trend shows a sharp decline towards 2006, a slight increase and followed by a plateau.