Marine rescue services are urging curious beachgoers to be cautious when they consider crossing an alluring sandbar, after several people were left stranded by the high tide.
Lifesavers and Coast Guard have advised walkers to be aware of the conditions and tide times when they attempt to traverse the bank from Caloundra’s Happy Valley to Bribie Island.
The expanse of sand, which is about 60m long, has accumulated since a tidal breakthrough at Bribie Island, which shifted sand in the Pumicestone Passage early last year.
It’s become a source of wonder and a playground for locals and visitors, who walk their dogs, play cricket and ride bikes there.
People can essentially walk from Happy Valley to Bribie Island at low tide.
But unwary beachgoers have been caught out by the tide, with several of them left stranded on Bribie Island at high tide.
Caloundra Coast Guard commander Roger Pearce said it was important for people to be aware of their surroundings and when they can and can’t cross.
“We’ve done a few rescues where we’ve been asked to go over (to Bribie), and I know the lifesavers are helping and so are local paddleboarders,” he said.
“You must time it (a crossing) with the tides, and you have a very small window.
“People are OK if they’re going over and coming back in one motion but it (trouble) is when they stay on the island for an extended period and they don’t think of the tides.
“You can’t walk across the bar and then walk down to the Bribie bar (almost 2km to the south), for instance, and then come back two hours later, because you will find the water has risen and you can’t get across.”
Mr Pearce said people should not consider swimming back, particularly around high tide.
“It (the water movement) can be very strong,” he said.
Ithaca-Caloundra City Life Saving Club honorary secretary Patricia Barry said club members, based at nearby Bulcock Beach, had been required to help several people.
“We are having trouble with people going over there,” Ms Barry said.
“They go over (to the island) and then the tide comes in and they get stuck there, and some of them try to swim back.
“Last weekend, we had to fish about five people out of the water while they were coming back.”
Ms Barry also implored Happy Valley visitors to pay heed to warning signs, after a spate of injuries caused by sharp rocks.
The spit has also made it difficult for lifesavers and Coast Guard to help swimmers on the surf side of the bar at high tide.
“We can’t get our boat over the sand,” Ms Barry said.
Coast Guard was recently hampered by the bar in poor weather conditions, when they were called to attend a mayday call off the coast at low tide.
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