‘I’m angry’: Lisa Curry’s powerful message for men after drownings
Hours after posting some brutal but practical truths about water safety following drownings on the Gold Coast and Cairns, swimming legend Lisa Curry has emerged at a Fraser Coast pool putting her words into action. DETAILS, PHOTOS.
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After several tragic drownings in Queensland, swimming legend Lisa Curry urged her 24 thousand social media followers to think twice before jumping into the water.
“I’m upset and I’m mad,” the Sunshine Coast-based sporting champion wrote.
“I couldn’t sleep the other night after hearing the devastating news of the father and grandfather who drowned trying to save their little girl.
“It’s a horrendous tragedy and I really feel the need to voice my opinion on this.
“If you can’t swim, don’t get into the water.”
Just hours after the post Curry was at the Hervey Bay Aquatic Centre, meeting with members of Fraser Coast Mates – a group focusing on mental wellness for men, who are among the most at risk of drowning.
She explained what was meant to simply be a fun session with men’s group Fraser Coast Mates had taken on a new level of importance and she wanted to share her skills in response to recent tragedies.
It comes after emergency services responded to an incident on the Gold Coast in which a father and son drowned while trying to rescue a toddler who had fallen into a pool on Easter Sunday.
Dharmvir Singh, 38, and his father Gurjinder Singh, 65, died after jumping into a pool to rescue Dharmvir’s two-year-old daughter, who had slipped into the water while playing near the edge.
“If you can’t swim and you’re in deep water with your clothes on, in a stressful situation, it is never going to end well,” the post read
“One gulp of water and it’s all over.
“Everyone understands that it’s a natural instinct to jump in and help, but at what cost?
“If you must go into the water to try and save someone – take an extra 20 seconds and take your shoes and clothes off.
“Just leave your undies and bra on, and slide in gently from the side and keep hanging on to something.
“When you jump, you go straight down.
“When you’re fully clothed you’re heavy.
“Trying to claw your way up for a breath is useless if you don’t know how to position your hands and use your legs for propulsion.
“If you put all the clothes and shoes you are wearing right now into a bucket of water, slosh them around, and then pick them up, you’ll see how heavy they are.
“I’m sorry if this upsets anyone but it keeps happening.
“And it’s upsetting to read about.
Referencing the recent loss of a father and son at a Cairns waterhole, Curry went on to explain statistics showed young children and men were more at risk of drowning and questioned “how many people have to drown because they don’t think of the consequences”.
Just because you won a race back in primary school does NOT mean you can swim,” she wrote.
“Swimming is the type of activity that you need to do consistently to be able to do well.
“If you need to save yourself or someone else, you need to be able to swim at least 500mts with ease and be competent, able to float, move around and swim your way to the top of the water for air.
“This can be taught and practised.”
Curry offered an open invitation to anyone who could attend the session at Hervey Bay Aquatic Centre on Saturday morning.
“The class is for men but anyone is welcome to come and watch, listen and learn,” she wrote.
“Please be careful around water.
“Drowning is often silent.
“Even grandparents, if you are looking after little ones, and if you’re not competent in the water – do not go near the water!
“If you think it’s funny to jump into water in your wedding dress, it could be a disaster – don’t do it.
“Don’t swim if you’re drunk. Don’t react to peer pressure. Don’t swim at night alone.
“Don’t swim outside the flags. Don’t take your eyes off your kids. Don’t jump into waterholes if you don’t know what’s under the water.
“Don’t swim into rips. Don’t go into rough water or big waves if you’re not competent (I’ve met someone who broke their neck in the surf) If your fishing boat overturned or sank- could you swim to safety?
“Be careful rock fishing, you don’t want to be washed into the water around the rocks.
“Learn CPR. There are adult swim classes at every pool around Australia so there really are no excuses.
“My mum grew up in the country and never learnt how to swim.
“When we went on holidays to the Gold Coast as kids, she only ever went in ankle deep.
“Just be more aware of the consequences of your actions – please.
“Sending love and strength to the family of the latest tragic incident.”
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