Sunshine Coast’s most dangerous beaches revealed

Popular beaches and rivers have been identified as some of the Sunshine Coast’s deadliest after the region recorded the highest number of rescues and drownings in Queensland.

A Sunshine Coast lifesaver has revealed the most dangerous places to swim in the region and pleaded with beachgoers to be safe after the Sunshine Coast recorded the most drownings in Queensland.

The 2023 Coast Safe Report states 14 people drowned at Queensland beaches between September 2022 and September 2023, with 10 being on the Sunshine Coast and four on the Gold Coast.

Yaroomba beach looking south from Point Arkwright. Photo: Lachie Millard

The report states all drownings happened outside the red and yellow flags, with four drownings less than 200m away. Five happened outside patrol hours.

The data states eight drowning victims were swimming, two were riding on a watercraft, one was wading and the remaining three were unknown.

The Sunshine Coast also had the highest number of rescues across the state with 1415 rescues, compared to the Gold Coast with 800 rescues.

Lifeguard supervisor Trent Robinson.

Sunshine Coast Lifeguard Supervisor Trent Robinson said the most dangerous areas to swim on the Sunshine Coast included river mouths such as the Noosa River, Stumers Creek at Coolum and the Maroochy River.

“We get lots of rescues out there … places like (the river mouths) are quite dangerous,” Mr Robinson said.

Several unpatrolled beaches between Yaroomba and Noosa were considered equally as risky, especially with no lifeguards on duty.

“As you go further north, (the beaches) are a lot more exposed to the southerly swells, so sort of from Coolum onwards … the seas are a little bit bigger and the beaches are more exposed, so it is a bit more dangerous up that way,” Mr Robinson said.

Happy Valley in Caloundra was once regarded as one of the most dangerous beaches due to its location and being hidden from patrolled areas nearby, but Mr Robinson said it is no longer considered dangerous after the area recently sanded over.

It became an officially patrolled area on September 16.

Surfers on the headland at Happy Valley in Caloundra. Photo Lachie Millard

But the biggest issue on the Sunshine Coast was swimmers taking to quiet, unpatrolled beaches.

“They’re perfect for going for a little dip but that’s unfortunately where people get into trouble. And there is nobody around and there’s no one to help them,” Mr Robinson said.

He said larger tides often come around the Christmas period, which brought a lot more water movement, especially at the river mouths.

Swimmers have been urged to stay between the red and yellow flags this summer after the Sunshine Coast recorded the most drownings and rescues of anywhere in Queensland. File image. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Mr Robinson pleaded with swimmers to remain between the red and yellow flags, even if the beach is busy, and to always adhere to lifeguards’ instructions.

“The flags are there for a reason. It’s always the safest part of the beach, and usually on a nice sandbank,” he said.