diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/npcstats.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/npcstats.cpp
index ba01caf95..6d9388408 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/npcstats.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/npcstats.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ MWMechanics::NpcStats::NpcStats()
 , mWerewolfKills (0)
 , mProfit(0)
 , mTimeToStartDrowning(20.0)
-, mLastDrowningHit(0)
 {
     mSkillIncreases.resize (ESM::Attribute::Length, 0);
 }
@@ -522,7 +521,6 @@ void MWMechanics::NpcStats::writeState (ESM::NpcStats& state) const
     std::copy (mUsedIds.begin(), mUsedIds.end(), std::back_inserter (state.mUsedIds));
 
     state.mTimeToStartDrowning = mTimeToStartDrowning;
-    state.mLastDrowningHit = mLastDrowningHit;
 }
 
 void MWMechanics::NpcStats::readState (const ESM::NpcStats& state)
@@ -573,5 +571,4 @@ void MWMechanics::NpcStats::readState (const ESM::NpcStats& state)
             mUsedIds.insert (*iter);
 
     mTimeToStartDrowning = state.mTimeToStartDrowning;
-    mLastDrowningHit = state.mLastDrowningHit;
 }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/npcstats.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/npcstats.hpp
index ee897033b..579455a75 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/npcstats.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/npcstats.hpp
@@ -46,8 +46,6 @@ namespace MWMechanics
 
             /// Countdown to getting damage while underwater
             float mTimeToStartDrowning;
-            /// time since last hit from drowning
-            float mLastDrowningHit;
 
         public:
 
diff --git a/components/esm/npcstats.cpp b/components/esm/npcstats.cpp
index 3e6aed99d..4ba0ce7e3 100644
--- a/components/esm/npcstats.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/npcstats.cpp
@@ -75,8 +75,9 @@ void ESM::NpcStats::load (ESMReader &esm)
     mTimeToStartDrowning = 0;
     esm.getHNOT (mTimeToStartDrowning, "DRTI");
 
-    mLastDrowningHit = 0;
-    esm.getHNOT (mLastDrowningHit, "DRLH");
+    // No longer used
+    float lastDrowningHit = 0;
+    esm.getHNOT (lastDrowningHit, "DRLH");
 
     // No longer used
     float levelHealthBonus = 0;
@@ -146,9 +147,6 @@ void ESM::NpcStats::save (ESMWriter &esm) const
     if (mTimeToStartDrowning)
         esm.writeHNT ("DRTI", mTimeToStartDrowning);
 
-    if (mLastDrowningHit)
-        esm.writeHNT ("DRLH", mLastDrowningHit);
-
     if (mCrimeId != -1)
         esm.writeHNT ("CRID", mCrimeId);
 }
diff --git a/components/esm/npcstats.hpp b/components/esm/npcstats.hpp
index 0061fc05f..f6e9c1e58 100644
--- a/components/esm/npcstats.hpp
+++ b/components/esm/npcstats.hpp
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@ namespace ESM
         int mSkillIncrease[8];
         std::vector<std::string> mUsedIds;
         float mTimeToStartDrowning;
-        float mLastDrowningHit;
         int mCrimeId;
 
         void load (ESMReader &esm);