Lifeguards and lifesavers are bracing for a tidal wave of beachgoers in summer and they’re urging people to stay safe in the face of “distressing” drowning figures.
They’re pleading with beachgoers to follow the safety messages – always swim at patrolled beaches and check the conditions before going for a swim – to avoid a repeat of tragedies of past years.
“Please help yourself and us by swimming only between the red and yellow flags and following the advice of lifesavers and lifeguards,” said Surf Life Saving Queensland Sunshine Coast Regional Operations Manager Aaron Purchase.
“Our volunteer surf lifesavers and professional lifeguards have had a couple of very challenging seasons with unpredictable weather events and an increase in domestic visitors to Queensland beaches.
“We’ve seen a significant number of beachgoers getting into difficulty in the surf and, alarmingly, the vast majority of rescues and drownings are occurring outside flagged areas or patrol hours.”
The plea comes as the 2022/2023 volunteer patrol season started on Saturday, just in time for the spring school holidays and ahead of the traditionally busy Christmas-New Year holidays.
About 1.4 million people visited Sunshine Coast beaches during the peak of last season and droves of people were anticipated to return now that COVID-19 restrictions have eased.
“We’re expecting our beaches to be absolutely packed again this summer,” Mr Purchase said.
Three people died at the region’s beaches last season, when patrols performed 1424 rescues, 21,878 first aid treatments and 230,699 preventative actions.
Concerning figures, revealed last week, showed the number of coastal drowning deaths in Australia reached its highest point since 2004, during the 12 months to June 30.
During that period, 141 people lost their lives, while there were 8600 rescues and 58,300 first aid treatments.
Surf Life Saving Australia chief executive Adam Weir said they were dark times and he implored beachgoers to be vigilant.
“This year has been the worst we have experienced (in) collecting coastal drowning information during the past 18 years,” he said.
“This is a distressing result for all emergency service groups in addition to being devastating to so many families, friends and loved ones.”
The increase has been linked to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as travel bans, with more people holidaying closer to home.
Almost half of coastal drowning happened more than 5km from a surf lifesaving service as Australians sought out secluded and unfamiliar beaches.
“With many of these tragedies unfolding at remote and isolated locations, SLSA is appealing for the public to consider where they are recreating and understand their limitations,” Mr Weir said.
One of the Sunshine Coast’s longest serving lifesavers, Andrew Buhk, said the region’s beaches were getting busier every year.
“The number of people on our beaches has skyrocketed,” he said.
“And because of that, there are more people swimming outside the flags (looking to avoid the crowds).
“We’ve also got more multicultural diversity on our beaches, and many don’t have any history or knowledge of what the dangers are.”
Mr Buhk said the growing number of beachgoers had driven a need for more patrol members and increased surveillance.
“Everything has changed since I started patrolling,” he said.
“A patrol used to include two Bronze Medallion holders and an SRC (Surf Rescue Certificate) holder,” he said.
“Now there is six to 20 people in a patrol, there are jet skis, inflatable rescue boards, drones and helicopters.
“A large part of what we do now involves technology but there is still that human factor.
“We need people who have got the skills to be able to go into the surf and actually pull someone out of the water.”
Mr Buhk, 56, started surf lifesaving as a nipper when he was 7 years old and earned his Bronze Medallion when he was 20 years old.
He has patrolled ever since and is now a life member of the Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Club.
His grandfather was a foundation member of the club, while his parents were also inducted as life members.
“It’s in the blood,” he said, before lauding the benefits of being involved in surf life saving.
“It’s the community service but it’s also the friendship and camaraderie and learning new skills.”
“I had a very strong family background in it, but a lot of people get involved because their kids are in nippers.”
Mr Buhk has managed to volunteer his time at the beach, despite owning and operating a financial planning practice in Maroochydore.
He’s seen the perils of the ocean on several occasions.
“I’ve been involved in three full-blown resuscitations,” he said, before adding that surf life savers were valuable away from the beach as well.
“Some of our more confronting scenarios aren’t even related to the surf and aren’t even when you’re officially on duty,” he said.
“I’ve attended horrific car accidents.
“Lifesavers in red and yellow, who volunteer on the beach during the weekends, also happen to be the first ones (responders) to be at major incidents, like a heart attack at a shopping centre.
“For many emergency services workers, whether they’re lifesavers, SES, police, ambos or firies, they tend to be on duty all the time because they have some skills that can help.”
He repeated the formal calls urging beachgoers to be careful at the beach this season.
“If people don’t know (about conditions and locations) they can ask (a lifesaver or lifeguard).”
“They should make sure they’re doing the right thing by themselves and their family.”
Sunshine Coast Council will inject $5.7 million into lifeguard services this financial year to help keep residents and visitors safe across the region’s 21 patrolled beaches.
Council was also working with local surf life saving clubs and the Compass Institute to make beaches more accessible and inclusive. Beach matting, wheelchairs and life jackets are available to use at no charge.
The surf lifesaving seasons runs from September until May.
Sunshine Coast’s patrolled beaches
- All year: Kings Beach, Dicky Beach, Mooloolaba Main and Spit, Alexandra Headland, Maroochydore, Twin Waters, Mudjimba, Discovery Beach and Coolum.
- Seasonal: Bulcock, Marcoola, Buddina/Kawana, Coolum North (seven days a week between September holidays to May, plus weekends, school and public holidays during winter).
- Weekend/holiday: Currimundi (weekends, school and public holidays all year).
- Lower seasonal: Kings Beach Pool, Boardwalk, Bokarina and Wurtulla (weekends, school and public holidays from September to May).
- Summer holiday: Golden Beach, Maroochy River Mouth and Yaroomba (school holidays between September to May).
