Serious incidents at beaches in Byron Bay, Lennox and Ballina have prompted renewed pleas from Surf Life Saving NSW to swim between the flags.
The incidents were part of a frantic time for the volunteer-based organisation towards the end of January as soaring temperatures reportedly compelled millions of Australians to the water.
A woman in her 20s was pulled from the water at Ballina’s Flat Rock Beach by a lifeguard and members of the public on Sunday 21 January.
The woman was said to be unconscious but breathing when rescued and in a stable condition in hospital last week.
Tallow Beach drowning
Her near-tragedy happened just days after the fatal drowning of a young man at Tallow Beach in Byron.
The man in his early 20s was pulled from the water by fellow beachgoers early on the morning of 18 January.
Lifesavers said the youth had been swimming at around 7am, outside of the beach’s patrolled hours.
CPR was reportedly administered for 40 minutes after the man was pulled unconscious from the water, but he was unable to be revived.
‘It’s a blackspot,’ Surf Lifesaving duty officer Jimmy Keough told the ABC afterwards, ‘there have been numerous incidents and also drownings there in previous years’.
The messaging on Beach swimming has been wrong. Swim between the flags helps but mostly there are no flags, especially on the beaches people are drowning at. The message would be more effective in saving peoples lives from drowning if the message was ‘DON’T get out of your DEPTH’. ie always have your feet firmly on the sand. Of course that would mostly mean that you would be swimming in a little over 1 metre of water and close to the shore. Added advantage is lessening the chance of a shark attack.
Best regards,
Dave Dane
Norfolk Island
Not as safe as it sounds at Tallow Beach. There is usually a strong side current that can sweep you into a deeper section that can become like a whirlpool.
And don’t go swimming at Norfolk Island.
Condolences to the families.
But if you must swim at unpatrolled beaches (the vast majority of Australian beaches are unpatrolled)
1) “wear fins” (flippers)
2) take a flotation device or, at least, have one handy eg body board, surfboard, pool noodle
– in an emergency even an emptied drink bottle or esky will help