Source : the age
Beach rescues at several popular northern suburbs swimming spots have reached a shocking all-time high, sparking an urgent warning from lifeguards.
The City of Stirling’s beach services team performed an unprecedented 374 rescues in the month of December alone – more than usually seen in an entire year.
The City of Stirling’s beach services team performed an unprecedented 374 rescues in December alone, sparking warnings from lifeguards.Credit: Nine News Perth.
Stirling – the only local government in Western Australia providing its own beach patrols 365 days a year – employs four full-time beach inspectors and up to 16 casual lifeguards who bolster these patrols from the September school holidays to the end of April.
The city manages 7km of coastline, reserves and surf beaches from Peasholm Street Dog Beach to Watermans Bay, including the popular snorkel destination Mettams pool.
The alarming statistics have come after a horrific three-week period in which six people drowned in WA waters.
The most recent of those was 17-year-old Joseph Bank Secondary College student Tyler Jury, who died on Tuesday at the non-lifeguard-patrolled recreational area at Lake Leschenaultia in the Perth Hills.
Just 30 minutes after emergency services were called to Lake Leschenaultia, paramedics rushed to help a man pulled from the water in the coastal town of Bremer Bay.
Police said the man in his 40s died after entering the water to help two children who were struggling, before finding himself in trouble.
Just days prior, 22-year-old Sio Afamasaga drowned at City Beach, just south of the City of Stirling boundary, on January 10.
The rescues by Stirling lifeguards involved struggling swimmers, a couple whose boat had capsized off Mettams Pool and even a trio of young men who were getting blown out to sea on an inflatable raft.
Veteran beach services team leader John Snook – who has helmed the team for 25 years – said rescues for the 2024/25 financial year had almost hit 800, a record for the city.
“Our team is seeing more people who either aren’t aware of how dangerous the ocean can be or don’t have enough respect for it,” Snook said.
“We get a lot of tourists, international students and people from migrant backgrounds – particularly at Scarborough Beach – who haven’t grown up learning about the fundamentals of ocean safety, and those cultural differences can put them at greater risk in the water.”
Staff have also noticed weekdays have become busier, as post-COVID work arrangements give people more flexibility.
The team also works closely with the Scarboro and Trigg Island Surf Life Saving Clubs.
Statistics obtained from Surf Life Saving WA on Thursday show a staggering increase in rescues and deaths across the state.
In the summer period between December 1, 2024 and January 12 there have been 10 coastal drowning deaths – a 233 per cent increase on same period the previous year.
There were also 264 rescues performed by SLSWA services – a 120 per cent increase on the same period last summer.
There have been 11 coastal drowning deaths total since July 1, 2024.
The previous year between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024, 20 people drowned nationally.
City of Stirling mayor and former Scarboro SLSC president Mark Irwin said the spate of recent drownings at WA beaches was a tragic reminder of the dangers of the ocean.
“We don’t want to talk anyone out of going to the beach because we have incredible beaches in the City of Stirling – we just want everyone to be safe,” Irwin said.
“Pay attention to the people who are there to keep you safe, pay attention to the conditions and don’t underestimate how powerful the ocean can be.”
He said to stay safe at the beach visitors should swim between the flags, heed warning signs, learn to spot a rip, stay within your limits, don’t drink and swim and speak to surf lifesavers if you have questions.
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