Surf lifesavers are urging Australians to only swim at patrolled beaches this summer following a rise in the number of deadly “bystander rescues”.
A new report by Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) found that in 2022-23, bystander rescue fatalities – where a person attempting to help drowns themselves – climbed to eight, up 150 per cent on the 10-year average.
SLSNSW President, Peter Agnew, said bystander rescues “can be a deadly decision” without the essential training and equipment, even if trying to save a loved one.
“It’s what makes swimming at an unpatrolled beach so dangerous,” he said.
There were 48 coastal drownings last year in NSW, with rip currents remaining the top contributor for 27 per cent of these, the SLSNSW reported.
Surf lifesavers are urging beachgoers to prioritise their safety this summer ahead of National Water Safety Day on Friday 1 December, especially on unpatrolled regional beaches where half of fatalities occur, according to the report.
“Please swim at patrolled beaches and speak to Surf Life Saving volunteers to better understand local conditions as they can change quickly,” said Emergency Services Minister, Jihad Dib.
“Volunteers on our beaches and our emergency services are well equipped to respond, by swimming safely and within your abilities we can make sure you enjoy a day at the beach without needing their help.”
The warning comes in light of several bystander deaths that occurred last summer, including a father who drowned trying to rescue his daughter from a rip current near Black Head and an off-duty police officer who attempted to rescue his son near Narooma.
Dib said the NSW Government will increase funding this summer to improve Emergency Response Beacons in remote locations and provide more jet skis for volunteer patrols.
