diff --git a/src/randenc.c b/src/randenc.c
index 801aac4c4..ddc0dd386 100644
--- a/src/randenc.c
+++ b/src/randenc.c
@@ -528,24 +528,13 @@ void drown(region * r)
         unit **up = up = &r->units;
         while (*up) {
             unit *u = *up;
-            int amphibian_level = 0;
+
             if (u->ship || u_race(u) == get_race(RC_SPELL) || u->number == 0) {
                 up = &u->next;
                 continue;
             }
 
-            if (amphibian_level) {
-                int dead = damage_unit(u, "5d1", false, false);
-                if (dead) {
-                    ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg_message("drown_amphibian_dead",
-                        "amount unit region", dead, u, r));
-                }
-                else {
-                    ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg_message("drown_amphibian_nodead",
-                        "unit region", u, r));
-                }
-            }
-            else if (!(canswim(u) || canfly(u))) {
+            if (!(canswim(u) || canfly(u))) {
                 scale_number(u, 0);
                 ADDMSG(&u->faction->msgs, msg_message("drown", "unit region", u, r));
             }