Surf Life Saving Queensland launches urgent plea after year of tragedy on state’s beaches

Queensland has claimed an unenviable record after the deadliest year in history on the state’s beaches, as lifesavers launch a desperate plea to beachgoers.

SURF Life Saving Queensland has launched a desperate plea to beachgoers after the deadliest year on record.

As volunteer lifesavers prepare for the start of the summer surf season tomorrow, The Courier-Mail can reveal Queensland beaches claimed the lives of 21 people last season, an increase of 200 per cent on the previous year and the highest number of fatalities since record-keeping began.

The 21 victims who died at Queensland beaches in the 2018-19 financial year have been officially listed as ‘suspected’ drownings, though future coronial inquests could see that figure revised if medical conditions such as heart attacks are found to have caused fatalities.

In more disturbing data as lifesavers prepare for an influx of millions of beachgoers over the coming months, it can also be revealed the number of beach rescues increased 35 per cent last year, despite beachgoer numbers rising just nine per cent.

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Marleigh Dreyer and Daniel Homer are ready for the start of the season following Queensland’s deadliest year on record. Picture: Adam Head

The number of patients requiring first aid treatment at Queensland beaches also increased an alarming 85 per cent, stretching the resources of our army of surf volunteers to breaking point.

The statistics appear in the annual Surf Safe Report due to be released today.

In other key findings in the report, 12 of the 21 were males aged from 50-73 — a clear break away from previous trends around young men, while almost 50 per cent of victims were international tourists.

SLSQ will launch a statewide campaign specifically targeting older males and international tourists in a bid to reverse the alarming numbers.

Six suspected drownings took place at Sunshine Coast beaches, five on the Gold Coast and surprisingly, six at islands on the Great Barrier Reef.

Surf Life Saving Queensland’s CEO Dave Whimpey said the high number of beach deaths was unacceptable and it was up to everyone to bring the figure down.

“Tragically, 21 drownings is 21 too many, and the complacency has to end now,” he said.

“We need people swimming between the flags during patrol hours to provide our volunteer surf lifesavers with the best possible chance of rescuing you.

“The reality is our resources are stretched and we cannot be everywhere.

“Make your safety a priority and only enter the water at a patrolled beach. If not for yourself, do it for a loved one.”

He also said the high proportion of international drownings was also a major concern.

“This of course saddens us greatly and reinforces the need to communicate our surf safety

messaging to both a domestic and international audience,” he said.

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“We’re really keen to work closely with key stakeholders, tourism bodies and airlines to help

communicate directly with international and domestic tourists.”

To combat the rising tide of beach drownings, SLSQ plans to launch several key initiatives including:

* a statewide campaign aimed at older males

* extended patrol hours during peak seasons

* new programs tailored to high school and university students, particularly those from cultural backgrounds not familiar with beach safety

* aggressive media advertising campaign to reinforce surf safety messages

Nobby Beach lifesaver Dan Homer is one of the thousands of volunteers returning to patrol the state’s beaches this weekend and said things seemed to get busier every year.

“There’s more and more people flocking to the beaches, so there’s more rescues,” he said.

A woman in her mid-30s pulled from the surf on Wednesday remains in a critical condition in Gold Coast University Hospital.