The Irish Water Safety Council has called for extra vigilance in private boats following the deaths of three people in water-related accidents in Cork over the last few days.
An IWSC spokesman, Mr Roger Sweeney, said growth in the economy meant people had more money to engage in water sports leading to an increase in deaths, mainly among men.
"People are taking to water sports in greater numbers because money is more plentiful. However, you see so many cases where people buy life jackets only to leave them in the car. We need to exercise caution on the water and be ever mindful of its risks," he said.
The number of incidents involving leisure craft has more than doubled since 1994 to 350 a year.
Mr Sweeney said particular attention should be paid to the wearing of life jackets and to making sure that the jackets are fully functional. "It is important to check that all the zips and buckles on a jacket are working and to ensure that CO 2 cartridges have not been punctured. Also be sure to discard any faulty jackets." Statistics show that six males drown for every female that accidentally drowns. Most victims are in the 20-29 age group. Forty-five of the 52 accidental drownings recorded in Ireland last year were male.
A Cork man, John Harrington (55), of Bere Island, died on Wednesday evening after being thrown from a speedboat when the boat was struck by a high wave.
The accident happened shortly after 8 p.m. at the Pontoon, a landing area east of Castletownbere, Co Cork.
Two men from the Monkstown area in Co Cork drowned last Sunday as they were rowing back to their yacht, which was moored off the village of Glengariff.
Mr Michael Power and Mr Tony O'Mahony were members of the Cork Royal Yacht Club and were well known in the area.
None of the three days was said to have been wearing a life jacket.