A shark surveillance drone operator at Ballina’s Lighthouse Beach has found himself carrying out a very different kind of rescue after spotting a six-year-old boy struggling in the surf.
Local media has reported that Surf Life Saving NSW operator Prakash Jarapla was flying a drone just before 9am on Wednesday, September 23, when he noticed the child in difficulty about 15 metres offshore.
Mr Jarapla landed the drone, entered the water and brought the boy back to shore.
The child was checked and reunited with his parents, with no further medical treatment reportedly required.
The rescue came during routine shark surveillance under the NSW Government’s Shark Management Program.
From July this year, the government expanded drone surveillance significantly, with 72 beaches receiving year-round monitoring and at least one beach in every coastal local government area covered.
Lighthouse Beach is one of the Ballina Shire locations included in the program.
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