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Surf Life Saving WA’s urgent warning ahead of Australia Day weekend as ocean rescues soar

The number of beachgoers being rescued by WA lifesavers has skyrocketed by 180 per cent on last summer, prompting an urgent warning that inexperienced swimmers should reconsider going in the water this long weekend. Lifesavers carried out 378 rescues between December 1 and January 20, with an astonishing 222 of those taking place last weekend. This compared to just 13 rescues on the same weekend last year. The huge number of swimmers getting into distress has been partly attributed to unseasonable swell and strong currents caused by Tropical Cyclone Sean in WA’s north. Surf Life Saving WA’s general manager of lifesaving Chris Peck said the figures showed that too many beachgoers were still taking “unnecessary risks and going into the water when they should be staying on the sand”. The majority of the 378 rescues performed by SLSWA lifesavers took place at Trigg, Scarborough, Secret Harbour and City Beach. This time last year there had been 135 rescues, and the total number of rescues for the summer was 298. Preventative actions were also up 26 per cent to 45,165, while first aid treatments are down 40 per cent compared to the same period last summer. Mr Peck said the number of rescues last weekend was “extraordinarily high” and came amid an unseasonably large swell. “That’s primarily why there were so many rescues, because there was a large swell, which typically is unusual for this time of year,” he said. “So you could start to draw some dots and think it was to do with the cyclone. “That larger swell will bring more water into the shoreline and it’s got to level itself out somehow, so all that water funnels into the rip channels that form in the sandbanks, and that’s what draws people out (to sea).” Mr Peck praised the efforts of volunteer lifesavers, who he said were regularly witnessing a common scenario of people overestimating their abilities and underestimating the conditions. “Just because they were safe (when) swimming there last week, doesn’t mean it’ll be safe this week,” he said. “How many of these scenarios could have ended in tragedy were our lifesavers not on hand to help out?” With research showing the coastal drowning risk is four times greater on a summer public holiday, authorities will be on high alert this Australia Day weekend. SLSWA is telling swimmers: “If in doubt, don’t go in.” Ten people have drowned in WA so far this summer, which is double the summer average, and each ocean death took place at an unpatrolled beach. “Predominantly people are getting in trouble outside of patrolled locations and times, typically because of rips that are forming — because they’re unfamiliar with how to identify and avoid them — and they’re unfamiliar with the environment and overestimating their capability,” Mr Peck said. “We’re really sort of asking people to make some brave decisions about keeping yourself alive.” Beachgoers at Trigg witnessed a rescue on Monday night when a young couple got caught in a rip in front of a “no swimming” sign. Surfers Jordan King and Luke Eiffler, both 22, had just paddled out when they heard shouts for help and spotted the couple in distress. Another two surfers joined them and helped bring the couple back to shore. “They were quite far out,” Mr King said. “The lady was quite panicky, we told them to grab our boards, take a minute and get their breath back.” He said the conditions were not ideal for swimming. “You could see heaps of energy in the water, there were obviously a couple of ‘no swimming’ signs, but people didn’t know any better, they would have thought it was a nice night for swimming, they see other people out there and think ‘I’ll be fine.’” he said. “But the rips can get you like that, you go for a little swim and then get knocked off the sand bank and then you’re halfway to Rotto.” Nationally, 67 people have drowned so far this summer, compared to the five-year average of 58. Three drownings in WA in the space of five days earlier this month — at City Beach, Bremer Bay and Lake Leschenaultia — prompted a desperate call from lifesaving bodies for swimmers to empower themselves with the skills and knowledge to stay safe. Royal Life Saving Australia WA chief executive officer Peter Leaversuch told The West Australian last week the problem was getting worse. “The summer drowning toll is a much bigger problem than people realise, each one is a different place, different time and different circumstance but collectively this represents a big issue,” Mr Leaversuch said. “We’ve got a terrible problem. We like to think we’re a State full of aquatic people, but many don’t even have the most basic aquatic skills, and can’t float or tread water.” Mr Peck advised beachgoers this weekend to take notice of any signage and assess the conditions before entering the water. “When you go round a bend in your car and it says slow down to 40, hopefully people pay attention to that . . . it’s the same (at the beach), the signage is there for a reason.” This long weekend 1200 volunteer lifesavers and more than 100 lifeguards will be manning beaches across WA.

The West Australian exclusiveSurf Life Saving WA’s urgent warning ahead of Australia Day weekend as ocean rescues soar

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Surf Life Saving WA’s urgent warning ahead of Australia Day weekend as ocean rescues soar