Surf Life Saving NSW, Media Release, 22 January 2024

Volunteer surf lifesavers have worked through one of the busiest days of the summer to date on NSW beaches, where the drowning of a swimmer at an unpatrolled location on Sunday morning, 21 January, brought the drowning toll since 1 December to 12.

Just after 9am the SLSNSW State Operations Centre became aware of a CPR in progress on a male at the unpatrolled McCauleys Beach, north of Bulli in the Illawarra.

The male was initially assisted from the water by members of the public conscious and breathing but collapsed and fell unconscious on shore. Shortly after, an Inflatable Rescue Boat from Thirroul SLSC arrived and assisted NSW Ambulance with CPR.

The man left the scene by ambulance with CPR still being conducted, and was later declared deceased.

It is the 12th summer drowning on the NSW coastline, all of which have come at unpatrolled locations or after the hours of volunteer lifesaver of lifeguard patrols.

Illawarra lifesavers didn’t stop there, also assisting in a major multi-agency search and rescue operation following the activation of an Emergency Response Beacon (ERB) by a member of the public at the notorious Sharkies Beach near Coledale.

ERBs are stationed across the NSW coastline at black spot locations where there are no patrolling lifesavers or lifeguards, with 32 currently in operation statewide and more to be rolled out over the coming months.

SLSNSW jet skis, UAVs, Duty Officers, Coledale SLSC club members and the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter responded and aided in the search, with there eventually deemed to be nothing found.

In all, a staggering 389 rescues were conducted across the state on Sunday 21 January, where extreme heat – reaching the high 30s in many coastal regions – saw the public flock to the beach for respite.

In northern NSW, volunteer lifesavers and lifeguards were kept on their toes with major incidents at Ballina, Byron Bay and Lennox Head.

Chief among them, a female in her 20s pulled from the water unconscious but breathing at Ballina’s Flat Rock Beach by a lifeguard and members of the public just after 9am. She was transported to hospital by ambulance in a stable condition.

On Sydney’s Northern Beaches, just after 2pm the call came through from a group of teenagers that a teenage boy was in trouble at Warriewood Blow Hole. An IRB was sent from Warriewood SLSC (with Mona Vale SLSC assisting) and rescued the boy, nearly getting caught on the rocks. The boy was taken to hospital for a chest x-ray and CT scan.

Surf Life Saving NSW CEO, Steve Pearce said the incidents across the weekend are a sage safety reminder ahead of the Australia Day long weekend.

“Our volunteer lifesavers and lifeguards were extremely active this weekend and we’re grateful to have such a dedicated and passionate membership who take the safety of their community so seriously,” he said.

“With a significant number of rescues conducted yesterday (Sunday 21 January) and a 12th coastal drowning at an unpatrolled location this summer, it really rams home that message that when our lifesavers can’t see you, they can’t save you. It’s so important to swim at a patrolled location and between the red and yellow flags.

“That’s the message heading into this weekend – we’re encouraging potential beachgoers to take heed of what they’ve seen or heard on the news this summer. Understand your limitations, remember that drugs, alcohol and the ocean don’t mix, but most importantly, seek out a location where you see the red and yellow flags flying.

“We are anticipating an extreme level of operational activity on the Australia Day long weekend, so we are requesting everyone to be water safety conscious and support our lifesavers by listening to their advice.”

Coastal drownings are 1.5x more likely during school holidays and more than two times more likely on a public holiday.

Beach safety tips

• Always swim between the red and yellow patrol flags, for your nearest patrolled beach check the BeachSafe app or website
• Read the safety signs for information about the beach and ask a lifesaver or lifeguard for safety information
• Always swim with someone else so you can look out for each other, and always supervise children around the water
• Never swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• If you need help in the water, stay calm and attract attention by raising one arm
• In an emergency, dial Triple Zero
• For information about patrol times, weather, and beach locations visit the Beachsafe Website or Download the App.